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Zhang Y, Niu J, Wang J, Cai A, Wang Y, Wei G, Wang H. Neurological function and drug-refractory epilepsy in Sturge-Weber syndrome children: a retrospective analysis. Eur J Pediatr 2024; 183:1881-1890. [PMID: 38305888 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-024-05448-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Epilepsy in Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is common, but drug-refractory epilepsy (DRE) in SWS has rarely been studied in children. We investigated the characteristics of epilepsy and risk factors for DRE in children with SWS. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical characteristics of children with SWS with epilepsy in our hospital from January 2013 to October 2022. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were performed to investigate the factors influencing DRE in children with SWS. A total of 35 SWS children with epilepsy were included (51% male; mean age of presentation 3.6 ± 0.5 years), 71% of children with SWS had their first seizure within the first year of life, and the most common type of seizure was focal seizure (77%). Eleven (31%) patients developed DRE. The median age of onset for the first seizure was 1.0 years and all these cases were of SWS type I. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that stroke-like episodes and seizure clusters were risk factors for DRE in SWS children. A poor neurological function group was observed in twenty-five children with SWS. Status epilepticus was a risk factor that affected the neurological function of SWS children with epilepsy. Conclusion: The study explored the epileptic features of children with SWS. The results revealed that stroke-like episodes and seizure clusters are risk factors for DRE in children with SWS. The occurrence of status epilepticus impacts the neurological function of SWS children with epilepsy. Thus, long-term follow-up is necessary to monitor outcomes. What is Known: • Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare neurocutaneous disorder, over 75% of children with SWS experience seizures, and 30-57% develop drug-refractory epilepsy (DRE), which leads to a poor outcome. • Drug-refractory epilepsy in SWS has been rarely studied in children, and the risk factors associated with DRE are unclear. What is New: • Clinical features of SWS children with drug-refractory epilepsy. • In SWS, stroke-like episodes and seizure clusters are risk factors of DRE, the occurrence of status epilepticus impacts the neurological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jiechao Niu
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jiandong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Aojie Cai
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yao Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Guangshuai Wei
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Huaili Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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D'Onofrio G, Delrue MA, Lortie A, Marquis C, Striano P, Jaworski M, Andelfinger G, Perreault S. Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy With MEK Inhibitor in Patients With RASopathy. Pediatr Neurol 2023; 148:148-151. [PMID: 37722300 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several specific syndromes within the RASopathies spectrum lead to an increased risk of seizures up to developing refractory epileptic encephalopathy. Management remains symptomatic. METHODS Here we report two patients treated with trametinib, a MEK1-2 inhibitor, as a precision strategy for drug-resistant epilepsy. Patient 1 is a six-year-old girl with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (BRAF p.F595L, germline mutation), and Patient 2 is a 14-month-old boy with Schimmelpenning syndrome (KRAS p.G12D, postzygotic somatic mutation). Trametinib was initiated at a dosage of 0.025 mg/kg/day. RESULTS Patient 1 had multiple seizures per day, multifocal motor to bilateral tonic-clonic. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed a dramatic reduction in EEG discharges three months after trametinib onset, while a marked clinical improvement occurred after about five months, at the same dosage, and the girl is currently seizure-free for more than six months. Patient 2 had left cerebral hemiatrophy leading to right focal motor seizures, multiple per week to multiple per day, since the age of three months. On trametinib, he experienced an early benefit, remaining seizure-free for more than three months. However, after six months we observed recurrence of seizures. After 22 months of treatment, trametinib was discontinued because of a suspected drug-induced inflammatory colitis. After discontinuation, we observed a significant clinical and EEG "rebound effect." CONCLUSIONS We provide proof of concept that MEK inhibition is a promising approach for the treatment of patients with refractory epilepsy with selected germline and mosaic RASopathies. Future trials are encouraged to better investigate their potentials and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca D'Onofrio
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ange Delrue
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Anne Lortie
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy; Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
| | - Magdalena Jaworski
- Department of Pediatrics, Developmental Pediatrics Division, CHU Sainte-Justine
| | - Gregor Andelfinger
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sebastien Perreault
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Sran S, Bedrosian TA. RAS pathway: The new frontier of brain mosaicism in epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 180:106074. [PMID: 36907520 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
As cells divide during development, errors in DNA replication and repair lead to somatic mosaicism - a phenomenon in which different cell lineages harbor unique constellations of genetic variants. Over the past decade, somatic variants that disrupt mTOR signaling, protein glycosylation, and other functions during brain development have been linked to cortical malformations and focal epilepsy. More recently, emerging evidence points to a role for Ras pathway mosaicism in epilepsy. The Ras family of proteins is a critical driver of MAPK signaling. Disruption of the Ras pathway is most known for its association with tumorigenesis; however, developmental disorders known as RASopathies commonly have a neurological component that sometimes includes epilepsy, offering evidence for Ras involvement in brain development and epileptogenesis. Brain somatic variants affecting the Ras pathway (e.g., KRAS, PTPN11, BRAF) are now strongly associated with focal epilepsy through genotype-phenotype association studies as well as mechanistic evidence. This review summarizes the Ras pathway and its involvement in epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disorders, focusing on new evidence regarding Ras pathway mosaicism and the potential future clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahibjot Sran
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Tracy A Bedrosian
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, United States of America.
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Weaver KN, Gripp KW. Central nervous system involvement in individuals with RASopathies. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS. PART C, SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2022; 190:494-500. [PMID: 36454176 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.32023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) anomalies are common in individuals with RASopathies. While certain findings, including relative or absolute macrocephaly, are typical for most RASopathies, other findings are more common in certain conditions, with rare low-grade gliomas in Noonan syndrome (NS); Chiari 1 malformation and tethered cord in Costello syndrome (CS); and variable structural anomalies including heterotopia and hydrocephalus in cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC). We performed a literature review and present aggregate data on the common and uncommon CNS manifestations in individuals with RASopathies. A gene-based approach to defining risk for specific abnormalities may be considered. However, limited information on the CNS findings of rare RASopathies, such as autosomal recessive LZTR1-related NS or PPP1CB-related NS with loose anagen hair (NSLH), is currently available. Thus, consideration of the RASopathies as a group of distinct syndromic conditions with shared underlying causes and overlapping clinical presentations remains relevant, and individuals with a RASopathy are at risk for many findings seen in these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Nicole Weaver
- Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Karen W Gripp
- Division of Medical Genetics, Nemours Children's Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.,S. Kimmel Medical College, T. Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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