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Cui TY, Wu H, Tang CY, Wang XF, Li TF, Zhou J. Surgical outcomes of patients with genetically refractory epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Seizure 2024; 120:124-134. [PMID: 38959583 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2024.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To summarize the surgical outcomes of genetically refractory epilepsy and identify prognostic factors for these outcomes. METHODS A literature search of the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for relevant studies, published between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2023, was performed using specific search terms. All studies addressing surgical outcomes and follow-up of genetically refractory epilepsy were included. All statistical analyses were performed using STATA software (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA). This review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, 2020 (i.e., "PRISMA") reporting guidelines. RESULTS Of the 3833 studies retrieved, 55 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Eight studies were eligible for meta-analysis at the study level. Pooled outcomes revealed that 74 % of patients who underwent resective surgery (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.89; z = 9.47, p < 0.05) achieved Engel I status at the last follow-up. In the study level analysis, pooled outcomes revealed that 9 % of patients who underwent vagus nerve stimulation achieved seizure-free status (95 % CI 0.00-0.31; z = 1.74, p < 0.05), and 61 % (95 % CI 0.55-0.89; z = 11.96, p < 0.05) achieved a 50 % reduction in seizure frequency at the last follow-up. Fifty-three studies comprising 249 patients were included in an individual-level analysis. Among patients who underwent lesion resection or lobectomy/multilobar resection, 65 % (100/153) achieved Engel I status at the last follow-up. Univariate analysis indicated that female sex, somatic mutations, and presenting with focal seizure symptoms were associated with better prognosis (p < 0.05). Additionally, 75 % (21/28) of patients who underwent hemispherectomy/hemispherotomy achieved Engel I status at the last follow-up. In the individual-level analysis, among patients treated with vagus nerve stimulation, 21 % (10/47) were seizure-free and 64 % (30/47) experienced >50 % reduction in seizure frequency compared with baseline. CONCLUSION Meticulous presurgical evaluation and selection of appropriate surgical procedures can, to a certain extent, effectively control seizures. Therefore, various surgical procedures should be considered when treating patients with genetically refractory epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Yi Cui
- Functional Neurosurgery Department, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Wu
- Functional Neurosurgery Department, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chong-Yang Tang
- Functional Neurosurgery Department, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiong-Fei Wang
- Functional Neurosurgery Department, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian-Fu Li
- Department of Neurology, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Epilepsy, Beijing, China; Centre of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Functional Neurosurgery Department, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Epilepsy, Beijing, China; Centre of Epilepsy, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Kheder A. Escaping the Procrustean Bed: A Perspective on Pediatric Stereoelectroencephalography. J Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 41:410-414. [PMID: 38935654 DOI: 10.1097/wnp.0000000000001047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY Stereoelectroencephalography is an established, hypothesis-driven method for investigating refractory epilepsy. There are special considerations and some limitations that apply to children who undergo stereoelectroencephalography. A key principle in stereoelectroencephalography is taking an individualized approach to investigating refractory epilepsy. A crucial factor for success in a personalized pediatric epilepsy surgery is understanding some of the fundamental and unique aspects of it, including, but not limited to, diverse etiology, epilepsy syndromes, maturation, and age-related characteristics as well as neural plasticity. Such features are reflected in the ontogeny of semiology and electrophysiology. In addition, special considerations are taken into account during cortical stimulation in children. Stereoelectroencephalography can guide a tailored surgical intervention where it is sufficient to render the patient seizure-free but it also lessens collateral damage with a minimum or no functional deficit. Epilepsy surgery outcomes remain stagnant despite advances in noninvasive testing modalities. A stereoelectroencephalography "way of thinking" and guided mentorship may influence outcomes positively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Kheder
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.; and
- Emory and Children's Pediatric Institute, 2015 Uppergate Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A
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Ventura R, Beltrán-Corbellini Á, Toledano R, Román ISM, García-Morales I, Gil-Nagel A. Epileptogenic focal lesions in Dravet syndrome: A warning to investigators. Epileptic Disord 2024; 26:173-180. [PMID: 38116874 DOI: 10.1002/epd2.20191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Most patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) have unremarkable neuroimaging studies. However, a small number of patients exhibit focal abnormalities that may modify the epilepsy phenotype. We report a case series of DS patients carrying SCN1A variants concurrent with additional focal brain lesions, aiming to provide details regarding their clinical course, electrographic findings, and imaging features. METHODS We reviewed the electronic medical records of patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies in our center, from January 2000 to December 2022, identifying 90 patients with DS resulting from SCN1A variants. Of these, patients displaying focal brain lesions were eligible. RESULTS Five patients (4 males and 1 female), with median age of 26 years, were included. All exhibited clinical and electroencephalographic features consistent with the DS spectrum. Sequencing analysis of the SCN1A gene identified pathogenic variants. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) in two patients, while the remaining three had cystic lesions. Three patients had previously undergone resective epilepsy surgery in other centers, with no improvement in seizure frequency. Neuropathology studies revealed the presence of FCD type IIA, intracranial teratomas, and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET). SIGNIFICANCE When an individual with an established diagnosis of genetic epilepsy and a focal lesion on MRI is undergoing preoperative evaluation, it is crucial to conduct a comprehensive analysis to understand the relevance of the focal finding for the patient's phenotype and thus anticipate potential surgical outcomes. In instances where epilepsy in DS patients is influenced by a specific focal structural lesion, resective surgery should be carefully considered after precise pharmacological treatment, acknowledging the persistent influence of an SCN1A variant on expected outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Ventura
- Hospital Egas Moniz - Neurology, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Rafael Toledano
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Ruber Internacional Ringgold standard institution, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Irene García-Morales
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Ruber Internacional Ringgold standard institution, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Gil-Nagel
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Ruber Internacional Ringgold standard institution, Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Iniciativa por las Neurociencias-(FINCE), Madrid, Spain
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Schneider MF, Vogt M, Scheuermann J, Müller V, Fischer-Hentrich AHL, Kremer T, Lugert S, Metzger F, Kudernatsch M, Kluger G, Hartlieb T, Noachtar S, Vollmar C, Kunz M, Tonn JC, Coras R, Blümcke I, Pace C, Heinen F, Klein C, Potschka H, Borggraefe I. Brain expression profiles of two SCN1A antisense RNAs in children and adolescents with epilepsy. Transl Neurosci 2024; 15:20220330. [PMID: 38283997 PMCID: PMC10811528 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2022-0330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Heterozygous mutations within the voltage-gated sodium channel α subunit (SCN1A) are responsible for the majority of cases of Dravet syndrome (DS), a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Development of novel therapeutic approaches is mandatory in order to directly target the molecular consequences of the genetic defect. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cis-acting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) of SCN1A are expressed in brain specimens of children and adolescent with epilepsy as these molecules comprise possible targets for precision-based therapy approaches. Methods We investigated SCN1A mRNA expression and expression of two SCN1A related antisense RNAs in brain tissues in different age groups of pediatric non-Dravet patients who underwent surgery for drug resistant epilepsy. The effect of different antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) directed against SCN1A specific antisense RNAs on SCN1A expression was tested. Results The SCN1A related antisense RNAs SCN1A-dsAS (downstream antisense, RefSeq identifier: NR_110598) and SCN1A-usAS (upstream AS, SCN1A-AS, RefSeq identifier: NR_110260) were widely expressed in the brain of pediatric patients. Expression patterns revealed a negative correlation of SCN1A-dsAS and a positive correlation of lncRNA SCN1A-usAS with SCN1A mRNA expression. Transfection of SK-N-AS cells with an ASO targeted against SCN1A-dsAS was associated with a significant enhancement of SCN1A mRNA expression and reduction in SCN1A-dsAS transcripts. Conclusion These findings support the role of SCN1A-dsAS in the suppression of SCN1A mRNA generation. Considering the haploinsufficiency in genetic SCN1A related DS, SCN1A-dsAS is an interesting target candidate for the development of ASOs (AntagoNATs) based precision medicine therapeutic approaches aiming to enhance SCN1A expression in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Frederik Schneider
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Molecular Life Sciences, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Johanna Scheuermann
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Veronika Müller
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Kremer
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Lugert
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Manfred Kudernatsch
- Clinic for Neurosurgery, Schoen-Klinik Vogtareuth, Germany
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Gerhard Kluger
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Neuropediatric Clinic and Clinic for Neurorehabilitation, Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Schoen-Klinik Vogtareuth, Germany
| | - Till Hartlieb
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
- Neuropediatric Clinic and Clinic for Neurorehabilitation, Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Schoen-Klinik Vogtareuth, Germany
| | - Soheyl Noachtar
- Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Vollmar
- Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Mathias Kunz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jörg Christian Tonn
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Coras
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ingmar Blümcke
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Claudia Pace
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Heinen
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Klein
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingo Borggraefe
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
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Coryell J, Singh R, Ostendorf AP, Eisner M, Alexander A, Eschbach K, Shrey DW, Olaya J, Ciliberto MA, Karakas C, Karia S, McNamara N, Romanowski EF, Kheder A, Pradeep J, Reddy SB, McCormack MJ, Bolton J, Wolf S, McGoldrick P, Hauptman JS, Samanta D, Tatachar P, Sullivan J, Auguste K, Gonzalez-Giraldo E, Marashly A, Depositario-Cabacar DF, Wong-Kisiel LC, Perry S. Epilepsy surgery in children with genetic etiologies: A prospective evaluation of current practices and outcomes. Seizure 2023; 113:6-12. [PMID: 38189708 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assesses current practices and outcomes of epilepsy surgery in children with a genetic etiology. It explores the pre-surgical workup, types of surgeries, and post-surgical outcomes in a broad array of disorders. METHODS Patients ≤18 years who completed epilepsy surgery and had a known genetic etiology prior to surgical intervention were extrapolated from the Pediatric Epilepsy Research Consortium (PERC) surgery database, across 18 US centers. Data were assessed univariably by neuroimaging and EEG results, genetic group (structural gene, other gene, chromosomal), and curative intent. Outcomes were based on a modified International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) outcome score. RESULTS Of 81 children with genetic epilepsy, 72 % had daily seizures when referred for surgery evaluation, which occurred a median of 2.2 years (IQR 0.3, 5.2) after developing drug resistance. Following surgery, 68 % of subjects had >50 % seizure reduction, with 33 % achieving seizure freedom [median follow-up 11 months (IQR 6, 17). Seizure freedom was most common in the monogenic structural group, but significant palliation was present across all groups. Presence of a single EEG focus was associated with a greater likelihood of seizure freedom (p=0.02). SIGNIFICANCE There are meaningful seizure reductions following epilepsy surgery in the majority of children with a genetic etiology, even in the absence of a single structural lesion and across a broad spectrum of genetic causes. These findings highlight the need for expedited referral for epilepsy surgery and support of a broadened view of which children may benefit from epilepsy surgery, even when the intent is palliative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Coryell
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Sciences University, CDRC-P, 707 SW Gaines Rd, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Rani Singh
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Atrium Health/Levine Children's Hospital, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Adam P Ostendorf
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mariah Eisner
- Biostatistics Resource at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Allyson Alexander
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Krista Eschbach
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | | | - Joffre Olaya
- Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Michael A Ciliberto
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Cemal Karakas
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Norton Children's Hospital, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Samir Karia
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Norton Children's Hospital, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Nancy McNamara
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erin Fedak Romanowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ammar Kheder
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Javarayee Pradeep
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Shilpa B Reddy
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael J McCormack
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey Bolton
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steven Wolf
- Boston Children's Health Physicians of New York and Connecticut, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Patricia McGoldrick
- Boston Children's Health Physicians of New York and Connecticut, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Jason S Hauptman
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Debopam Samanta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Priya Tatachar
- Department of Pediatrics, Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joseph Sullivan
- University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kurtis Auguste
- University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ernesto Gonzalez-Giraldo
- University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ahmad Marashly
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dewi F Depositario-Cabacar
- Center for Neuroscience, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lily C Wong-Kisiel
- Department of Neurology, Divisions of Child Neurology and Epilepsy, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Scott Perry
- Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health, Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA
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Lersch R, Jannadi R, Grosse L, Wagner M, Schneider MF, von Stülpnagel C, Heinen F, Potschka H, Borggraefe I. Targeted Molecular Strategies for Genetic Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Emerging Lessons from Dravet Syndrome. Neuroscientist 2023; 29:732-750. [PMID: 35414300 PMCID: PMC10623613 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221088244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy mostly caused by heterozygous mutation of the SCN1A gene encoding the voltage-gated sodium channel α subunit Nav1.1. Multiple seizure types, cognitive deterioration, behavioral disturbances, ataxia, and sudden unexpected death associated with epilepsy are a hallmark of the disease. Recently approved antiseizure medications such as fenfluramine and cannabidiol have been shown to reduce seizure burden. However, patients with Dravet syndrome are still medically refractory in the majority of cases, and there is a high demand for new therapies aiming to improve behavioral and cognitive outcome. Drug-repurposing approaches for SCN1A-related Dravet syndrome are currently under investigation (i.e., lorcaserin, clemizole, and ataluren). New therapeutic concepts also arise from the field of precision medicine by upregulating functional SCN1A or by activating Nav1.1. These include antisense nucleotides directed against the nonproductive transcript of SCN1A with the poison exon 20N and against an inhibitory noncoding antisense RNA of SCN1A. Gene therapy approaches such as adeno-associated virus-based upregulation of SCN1A using a transcriptional activator (ETX101) or CRISPR/dCas technologies show promising results in preclinical studies. Although these new treatment concepts still need further clinical research, they offer great potential for precise and disease modifying treatment of Dravet syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Lersch
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Rawan Jannadi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Leonie Grosse
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Matias Wagner
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Center for Health and Environment (GmbH), Munich, Germany
| | - Marius Frederik Schneider
- Metabolic Biochemistry, Biomedical Center Munich, Medical Faculty, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Molecular Life Sciences, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Celina von Stülpnagel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- Research Institute for Rehabilitation, Transition and Palliation, Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), Salzburg, Austria
| | - Florian Heinen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Heidrun Potschka
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Pharmacy, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ingo Borggraefe
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Social Pediatrics, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
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7
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Viswanathan LG, Alapati S, Nagappa M, Mundlamuri R, Kenchaiah R, Asranna A, Padmanabha H, Seshagiri DV, Sinha S. Phenotypic features of epilepsy due to sodium channelopathies - A single center experience from India. J Neurosci Rural Pract 2023; 14:603-609. [PMID: 38059254 PMCID: PMC10696347 DOI: 10.25259/jnrp_329_2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Nearly 40% of pediatric epilepsies have a genetic basis. There is significant phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity, especially in epilepsy syndromes caused by sodium channelopathies. Sodium channel subunit 1A (SCN1A)-related epilepsy represents the archetypical channel-associated gene that has been linked to a wide spectrum of epilepsies of varying severity. Subsequently, other sodium channels have also been implicated in epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aims to describe the phenotypes in children with sodium channelopathies from a center in Southern India. Materials and Methods This is a retrospective, descriptive, and single-center study. Out of 112 children presenting with epilepsy who underwent genetic testing between 2017 and 2021, 23 probands (M: F = 12:11) were identified to have clinically significant sodium channel mutations. Clinical presentation, electroencephalography, and imaging features of these patients were recorded. The utility of genetic test results (e.g., in planning another child, withdrawal of medications, or change in treatment) was also recorded. Results Age at onset of seizures ranged from day 4 of life to 3.5 years. Clinical epilepsy syndromes included generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (n = 3), Dravet syndrome (n = 5), early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (n = 7), drug-resistant epilepsy (n = 5), and epilepsy with associated movement disorders (n = 3). The most common type of seizure was focal with impaired awareness (n = 18, 78.2%), followed by myoclonic jerks (n = 8, 34.78%), epileptic spasms (n = 7, 30.4%), bilateral tonic-clonic seizures/generalized tonic-clonic seizures (n = 3, 13%), and atonic seizures (n = 5, 23.8%). In addition to epilepsy, other phenotypic features that were discerned were microcephaly (n = 1), cerebellar ataxia (n = 2), and chorea and dystonia (n = 1). Conclusion Sodium channelopathies may present with seizure phenotypes that vary in severity. In addition to epilepsy, patients may also have other clinical features such as movement disorders. Early clinical diagnosis may aid in tailoring treatment for the given patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandhya Alapati
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Madhu Nagappa
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ravindranadh Mundlamuri
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Raghavendra Kenchaiah
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ajay Asranna
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Hansashree Padmanabha
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Doniparthi V. Seshagiri
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Sanjib Sinha
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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8
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Martins Custodio H, Clayton LM, Bellampalli R, Pagni S, Silvennoinen K, Caswell R, Brunklaus A, Guerrini R, Koeleman BPC, Lemke JR, Møller RS, Scheffer IE, Weckhuysen S, Zara F, Zuberi S, Kuchenbaecker K, Balestrini S, Mills JD, Sisodiya SM. Widespread genomic influences on phenotype in Dravet syndrome, a 'monogenic' condition. Brain 2023; 146:3885-3897. [PMID: 37006128 PMCID: PMC10473570 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome is an archetypal rare severe epilepsy, considered 'monogenic', typically caused by loss-of-function SCN1A variants. Despite a recognizable core phenotype, its marked phenotypic heterogeneity is incompletely explained by differences in the causal SCN1A variant or clinical factors. In 34 adults with SCN1A-related Dravet syndrome, we show additional genomic variation beyond SCN1A contributes to phenotype and its diversity, with an excess of rare variants in epilepsy-related genes as a set and examples of blended phenotypes, including one individual with an ultra-rare DEPDC5 variant and focal cortical dysplasia. The polygenic risk score for intelligence was lower, and for longevity, higher, in Dravet syndrome than in epilepsy controls. The causal, major-effect, SCN1A variant may need to act against a broadly compromised genomic background to generate the full Dravet syndrome phenotype, whilst genomic resilience may help to ameliorate the risk of premature mortality in adult Dravet syndrome survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Martins Custodio
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Lisa M Clayton
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Ravishankara Bellampalli
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Susanna Pagni
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Katri Silvennoinen
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
- Kuopio Epilepsy Center, Neurocenter, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio 70210, Finland
| | - Richard Caswell
- Exeter Genomics Laboratory, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Andreas Brunklaus
- Paediatric Neuroscience Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Neuroscience Department, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCSS, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Bobby P C Koeleman
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Centre Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes R Lemke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Rikke S Møller
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Centre, DK-4293 Dianalund, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Austin Health and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3084, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- Applied and Translational Neurogenomics Group, VIB Centre for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2650, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp 2650, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Federico Zara
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sameer Zuberi
- Paediatric Neuroscience Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TB, UK
| | | | - Simona Balestrini
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
- Neuroscience Department, Meyer Children’s Hospital IRCSS, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - James D Mills
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanjay M Sisodiya
- University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
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9
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Eriksson MH, Whitaker KJ, Booth J, Piper RJ, Chari A, Sanfilippo PM, Caballero AP, Menzies L, McTague A, Adler S, Wagstyl K, Tisdall MM, Cross JH, Baldeweg T. Pediatric epilepsy surgery from 2000 to 2018: Changes in referral and surgical volumes, patient characteristics, genetic testing, and postsurgical outcomes. Epilepsia 2023; 64:2260-2273. [PMID: 37264783 PMCID: PMC7615891 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurosurgery is a safe and effective form of treatment for select children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Still, there is concern that it remains underutilized, and that seizure freedom rates have not improved over time. We investigated referral and surgical practices, patient characteristics, and postoperative outcomes over the past two decades. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of children referred for epilepsy surgery at a tertiary center between 2000 and 2018. We extracted information from medical records and analyzed temporal trends using regression analyses. RESULTS A total of 1443 children were evaluated for surgery. Of these, 859 (402 females) underwent surgical resection or disconnection at a median age of 8.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 4.6-13.4). Excluding palliative procedures, 67% of patients were seizure-free and 15% were on no antiseizure medication (ASM) at 1-year follow-up. There was an annual increase in the number of referrals (7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.3-8.6; p < .001) and surgeries (4% [95% CI = 2.9-5.6], p < .001) over time. Duration of epilepsy and total number of different ASMs trialed from epilepsy onset to surgery were, however, unchanged, and continued to exceed guidelines. Seizure freedom rates were also unchanged overall but showed improvement (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01-1.18; p = .027) after adjustment for an observed increase in complex cases. Children who underwent surgery more recently were more likely to be off ASMs postoperatively (OR 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.08; p = .013). There was a 17% annual increase (95% CI = 8.4-28.4, p < .001) in children identified to have a genetic cause of epilepsy, which was associated with poor outcome. SIGNIFICANCE Children with drug-resistant epilepsy continue to be put forward for surgery late, despite national and international guidelines urging prompt referral. Seizure freedom rates have improved over the past decades, but only after adjustment for a concurrent increase in complex cases. Finally, genetic testing in epilepsy surgery patients has expanded considerably over time and shows promise in identifying patients in whom surgery is less likely to be successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria H Eriksson
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neuropsychology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - John Booth
- Digital Research Environment, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Rory J Piper
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Aswin Chari
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Patricia Martin Sanfilippo
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neuropsychology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Ana Perez Caballero
- North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Lara Menzies
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Amy McTague
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Sophie Adler
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Konrad Wagstyl
- Imaging Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Martin M Tisdall
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neurosurgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - J Helen Cross
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
- Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, UK
| | - Torsten Baldeweg
- Developmental Neurosciences Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Neuropsychology, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
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10
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Kovačević M, Milićević O, Branković M, Janković M, Novaković I, Sokić D, Ristić A, Shamsani J, Vojvodić N. Novel variants in established epilepsy genes in focal epilepsy. Seizure 2023; 110:146-152. [PMID: 37390664 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Next generation sequencing (NGS) has greatly expanded our understanding of genetic contributors in multiple epilepsy syndromes, including focal epilepsy. Describing the genetic architecture of common syndromes promises to facilitate the diagnostic process as well as aid in the identification of patients who stand to benefit from genetic testing, but most studies to date have been limited to examining children or adults with intellectual disability. Our aim was to determine the yield of targeted sequencing of 5 established epilepsy genes (DEPDC5, LGI1, SCN1A, GRIN2A, and PCHD19) in an extensively phenotyped cohort of focal epilepsy patients with normal intellectual function or mild intellectual disability, as well as describe novel variants and determine the characteristics of variant carriers. PATIENTS AND METHODS Targeted panel sequencing was performed on 96 patients with a strong clinical suspicion of genetic focal epilepsy. Patients had previously gone through a comprehensive diagnostic epilepsy evaluation in The Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia. Variants of interest (VOI) were classified using the American College of Medical Genetics and the Association for Molecular Pathology criteria. RESULTS Six VOI in eight (8/96, 8.3%) patients were found in our cohort. Four likely pathogenic VOI were determined in six (6/96, 6.2%) patients, two DEPDC5 variants in two patients, one SCN1A variant in two patients and one PCDH19 variant in two patients. One variant of unknown significance (VUS) was found in GRIN2A in one (1/96, 1.0%) patient. Only one VOI in GRIN2A was classified as likely benign. No VOI were detected in LGI1. CONCLUSION Sequencing of only five known epilepsy genes yielded a diagnostic result in 6.2% of our cohort and revealed multiple novel variants. Further research is necessary for a better understanding of the genetic basis in common epilepsy syndromes in patients with normal intellectual function or mild intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maša Kovačević
- Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | | | | | - Milena Janković
- Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Novaković
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragoslav Sokić
- Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandar Ristić
- Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Nikola Vojvodić
- Neurology Clinic, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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11
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Perucca P, Stanley K, Harris N, McIntosh AM, Asadi-Pooya AA, Mikati MA, Andrade DM, Dugan P, Depondt C, Choi H, Heinzen EL, Cavalleri GL, Buono RJ, Devinsky O, Sperling MR, Berkovic SF, Delanty N, Goldstein DB, O'Brien TJ. Rare Genetic Variation and Outcome of Surgery for Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Ann Neurol 2022; 93:752-761. [PMID: 36534060 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Genetic factors have long been debated as a cause of failure of surgery for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). We investigated whether rare genetic variation influences seizure outcomes of MTLE surgery. METHODS We performed an international, multicenter, whole exome sequencing study of patients who underwent surgery for drug-resistant, unilateral MTLE with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or MRI evidence of hippocampal sclerosis and ≥2-year postsurgical follow-up. Patients with either sustained seizure freedom (favorable outcome) or ongoing uncontrolled seizures since surgery (unfavorable outcome) were included. Exomes of controls without epilepsy were also included. Gene set burden analyses were carried out to identify genes with significant enrichment of rare deleterious variants in patients compared to controls. RESULTS Nine centers from 3 continents contributed 206 patients operated for drug-resistant unilateral MTLE, of whom 196 (149 with favorable outcome and 47 with unfavorable outcome) were included after stringent quality control. Compared to 8,718 controls, MTLE cases carried a higher burden of ultrarare missense variants in constrained genes that are intolerant to loss-of-function (LoF) variants (odds ratio [OR] = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-3.5, p = 1.3E-09) and in genes encoding voltage-gated cation channels (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.4-3.8, p = 2.7E-04). Proportions of subjects with such variants were comparable between patients with favorable outcome and those with unfavorable outcome, with no significant between-group differences. INTERPRETATION Rare variation contributes to the genetic architecture of MTLE, but does not appear to have a major role in failure of MTLE surgery. These findings can be incorporated into presurgical decision-making and counseling. ANN NEUROL 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Perucca
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Bladin-Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kate Stanley
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Natasha Harris
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Anne M McIntosh
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Bladin-Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ali A Asadi-Pooya
- Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohamad A Mikati
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Patricia Dugan
- Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chantal Depondt
- Department of Neurology, Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Hôpital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hyunmi Choi
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Erin L Heinzen
- Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gianpiero L Cavalleri
- FutureNeuro Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Russell J Buono
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey, USA
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- Department of Neurology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael R Sperling
- Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Samuel F Berkovic
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Bladin-Berkovic Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Department of Neurology, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Norman Delanty
- FutureNeuro Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David B Goldstein
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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12
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Cross JH, Reilly C, Gutierrez Delicado E, Smith ML, Malmgren K. Epilepsy surgery for children and adolescents: evidence-based but underused. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2022; 6:484-494. [DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(22)00098-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Moloney PB, Dugan P, Widdess-Walsh P, Devinsky O, Delanty N. Genomics in the Presurgical Epilepsy Evaluation. Epilepsy Res 2022; 184:106951. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2022.106951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited data on the utility, yield, and cost efficiency of genetic testing in adults with epilepsy. We aimed to describe the yield and utility of genetic panels in our adult epilepsy clinic. METHODS We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of all patients followed by an epileptologist at a Canadian tertiary care centre's epilepsy clinic between January 2016 and August 2021 for whom a genetic panel was ordered. A panel was generally ordered when the etiology was unknown or in the presence of a malformation of cortical development. We determined the yield of panel positivity and of confirmed genetic diagnoses. We also estimated the proportion of these diagnoses that were clinically actionable. RESULTS In total, 164 panels were ordered in 164 patients. Most had refractory epilepsy (80%), and few had comorbid intellectual disability (10%) or a positive family history of epilepsy (11%). The yield of panel positivity was 11%. Panel results were uncertain 49% of the time and negative 40% of the time. Genetic diagnoses were confirmed in 7 (4.3%) patients. These genetic conditions involved the following genes: SCARB2, DEPDC5, PCDH19, LGI1, SCN1A, MT-TL1, and CHRNA7. Of the seven genetic diagnoses, 5 (71%) were evaluated to be clinically actionable. CONCLUSION We report a lower diagnostic yield for genetic panels in adults with epilepsy than what has so far been reported. Although the field of the genetics of epilepsy is a fast-moving one and more data is required, our findings suggest that guidelines for genetic testing in adults are warranted.
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15
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Xu C, Zhang Y, Gozal D, Carney P. Channelopathy of Dravet Syndrome and Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Cannabidiol. J Cent Nerv Syst Dis 2021; 13:11795735211048045. [PMID: 34992485 PMCID: PMC8724990 DOI: 10.1177/11795735211048045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a channelopathy, neurodevelopmental, epileptic encephalopathy characterized by seizures, developmental delay, and cognitive impairment that includes susceptibility to thermally induced seizures, spontaneous seizures, ataxia, circadian rhythm and sleep disorders, autistic-like behaviors, and premature death. More than 80% of DS cases are linked to mutations in genes which encode voltage-gated sodium channel subunits, SCN1A and SCN1B, which encode the Nav1.1α subunit and Nav1.1β1 subunit, respectively. There are other gene mutations encoding potassium, calcium, and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels related to DS. One-third of patients have pharmacoresistance epilepsy. DS is unresponsive to standard therapy. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid present in Cannabis, has been introduced for treating DS because of its anticonvulsant properties in animal models and humans, especially in pharmacoresistant patients. However, the etiological channelopathiological mechanism of DS and action mechanism of CBD on the channels are unclear. In this review, we summarize evidence of the direct and indirect action mechanism of sodium, potassium, calcium, and HCN channels in DS, especially sodium subunits. Some channels' loss-of-function or gain-of-function in inhibitory or excitatory neurons determine the balance of excitatory and inhibitory are associated with DS. A great variety of mechanisms of CBD anticonvulsant effects are focused on modulating these channels, especially sodium, calcium, and potassium channels, which will shed light on ionic channelopathy of DS and the precise molecular treatment of DS in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changqing Xu
- Department of Child Health and the Child Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Yumin Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics; Department of Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - David Gozal
- Department of Child Health and the Child Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Paul Carney
- Departments of Child Health and Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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16
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Boßelmann CM, Antonio-Arce VS, Schulze-Bonhage A, Fauser S, Zacher P, Mayer T, Aparicio J, Albers K, Cloppenborg T, Kunz W, Surges R, Syrbe S, Weber Y, Wolking S. Genetic testing before epilepsy surgery - An exploratory survey and case collection from German epilepsy centers. Seizure 2021; 95:4-10. [PMID: 34953286 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Genetic testing in people with epilepsy may support presurgical decision-making. It is currently unclear to what extent epilepsy centres use genetic testing in presurgical evaluation. METHODS We performed an exploratory survey among members of the German Society for Epileptology to study the current practice of genetic testing in presurgical evaluation at the respective sites. Survey participants contributed educational case reports. RESULTS The majority of participants consider genetic testing to be useful in individuals with familial syndromes or phenotypic features suggesting a genetic etiology. We report 25 cases of individuals with a confirmed genetic diagnosis that have previously undergone epilepsy surgery. Our cases demonstrate that a genetic diagnosis has an impact on both the decision-making process during presurgical evaluation, as well as the postoperative outcome. CONCLUSION Genetic testing as part of the presurgical work-up is becoming increasingly established in epilepsy centres across Germany. mTORopathies and genetic hypothalamic hamartomas seem to be associated with a generally favourable surgical outcome. Synaptopathies and channelopathies may be associated with a worse outcome and should be considered on a case-by-case level. Prospective studies are needed to examine the impact of an established genetic diagnosis on postsurgical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Malte Boßelmann
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Victoria San Antonio-Arce
- Freiburg Epilepsy Center, Full Member of the ERN EpiCARE, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Schulze-Bonhage
- Freiburg Epilepsy Center, Full Member of the ERN EpiCARE, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Fauser
- Department of Epileptology (Krankenhaus Mara), Medical School, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Pia Zacher
- Epilepsy Center Kleinwachau, Radeberg, Germany
| | | | - Javier Aparicio
- Epilepsy Surgery Unit, Full Member of the ERN EpiCARE, Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona Children's, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kristina Albers
- Department of Epileptology (Krankenhaus Mara), Medical School, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Cloppenborg
- Department of Epileptology (Krankenhaus Mara), Medical School, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Wolfram Kunz
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Rainer Surges
- Department of Epileptology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Steffen Syrbe
- Division of Paediatric Epileptology, Center for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Weber
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Department of Neurology and Epileptology, University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Stefan Wolking
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
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17
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Marashly A, Karia S, Zonjy B. Epilepsy Surgery: Special Circumstances. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2021; 39:100921. [PMID: 34620459 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2021.100921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy surgery has proven to be very effective in treating refractory focal epilepsies in children, producing seizure freedom or partial seizure control well beyond any other medical or dietary therapies. While surgery is mostly utilized in certain clinical phenotypes, either based on the location such as temporal lobe epilepsy, or based on the presence of known epileptogenic lesions such as focal cortical dysplasia, tumors or hemimegalencephaly, there is a growing body of evidence to support the role of surgery in other patients' cohorts that were classically not thought of as surgical candidates. These include patients with rare genetic disorders, electrical status epilepticus in sleep, status epilepticus and the very young patients. Furthermore, epilepsy surgery is not considered as a "last resort" as seizure and cognitive outcomes of surgery are considerably better when done earlier rather than later in relation to the time of onset of epilepsy and age of surgery especially in the context of known focal cortical dysplasia. This article examines the accumulating evidence of the utility of epilepsy surgery in these special circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Marashly
- Assistant Professor, University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.
| | - Samir Karia
- Associate Professor, Univeristy of Louisville, Luisiville, KY
| | - Bilal Zonjy
- Assistant Professor, University of Washington/Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA
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18
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Jones LB, Peters CH, Rosch RE, Owers M, Hughes E, Pal DK, Ruben PC. The L1624Q Variant in SCN1A Causes Familial Epilepsy Through a Mixed Gain and Loss of Channel Function. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:788192. [PMID: 34925043 PMCID: PMC8675213 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.788192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Variants of the SCN1A gene encoding the neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.1 cause over 85% of all cases of Dravet syndrome, a severe and often pharmacoresistent epileptic encephalopathy with mostly infantile onset. But with the increased availability of genetic testing for patients with epilepsy, variants in SCN1A have now also been described in a range of other epilepsy phenotypes. The vast majority of these epilepsy-associated variants are de novo, and most are either nonsense variants that truncate the channel or missense variants that are presumed to cause loss of channel function. However, biophysical analysis has revealed a significant subset of missense mutations that result in increased excitability, further complicating approaches to precision pharmacotherapy for patients with SCN1A variants and epilepsy. We describe clinical and biophysical data of a familial SCN1A variant encoding the NaV1.1 L1624Q mutant. This substitution is located on the extracellular linker between S3 and S4 of Domain IV of NaV1.1 and is a rare case of a familial SCN1A variant causing an autosomal dominant frontal lobe epilepsy. We expressed wild-type (WT) and L1642Q channels in CHO cells. Using patch-clamp to characterize channel properties at several temperatures, we show that the L1624Q variant increases persistent current, accelerates fast inactivation onset and decreases current density. While SCN1A-associated epilepsy is typically considered a loss-of-function disease, our results put L1624Q into a growing set of mixed gain and loss-of-function variants in SCN1A responsible for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Jones
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Colin H Peters
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Richard E Rosch
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Paediatric Neurology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maxine Owers
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Elaine Hughes
- Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deb K Pal
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter C Ruben
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Sisodiya SM. Precision medicine and therapies of the future. Epilepsia 2020; 62 Suppl 2:S90-S105. [PMID: 32776321 PMCID: PMC8432144 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Precision medicine in the epilepsies has gathered much attention, especially with gene discovery pushing forward new understanding of disease biology. Several targeted treatments are emerging, some with considerable sophistication and individual‐level tailoring. There have been rare achievements in improving short‐term outcomes in a few very select patients with epilepsy. The prospects for further targeted, repurposed, or novel treatments seem promising. Along with much‐needed success, difficulties are also arising. Precision treatments do not always work, and sometimes are inaccessible or do not yet exist. Failures of precision medicine may not find their way to broader scrutiny. Precision medicine is not a new concept: It has been boosted by genetics and is often focused on genetically determined epilepsies, typically considered to be driven in an individual by a single genetic variant. Often the mechanisms generating the full clinical phenotype from such a perceived single cause are incompletely understood. The impact of additional genetic variation and other factors that might influence the clinical presentation represent complexities that are not usually considered. Precision success and precision failure are usually equally incompletely explained. There is a need for more comprehensive evaluation and a more rigorous framework, bringing together information that is both necessary and sufficient to explain clinical presentation and clinical responses to precision treatment in a precision approach that considers the full picture not only of the effects of a single variant, but also of its genomic and other measurable environment, within the context of the whole person. As we may be on the brink of a treatment revolution, progress must be considered and reasoned: One possible framework is proposed for the evaluation of precision treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay M Sisodiya
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Bucks, UK
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