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Talevi A, Bellera C. An update on the novel methods for the discovery of antiseizure and antiepileptogenic medications: where are we in 2024? Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:975-990. [PMID: 38963148 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2373165] [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: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite the availability of around 30 antiseizure medications, 1/3 of patients with epilepsy fail to become seizure-free upon pharmacological treatment. Available medications provide adequate symptomatic control in two-thirds of patients, but disease-modifying drugs are still scarce. Recently, though, new paradigms have been explored. AREAS COVERED Three areas are reviewed in which a high degree of innovation in the search for novel antiseizure and antiepileptogenic medications has been implemented: development of novel screening approaches, search for novel therapeutic targets, and adoption of new drug discovery paradigms aligned with a systems pharmacology perspective. EXPERT OPINION In the past, worldwide leaders in epilepsy have reiteratively stated that the lack of progress in the field may be explained by the recurrent use of the same molecular targets and screening procedures to identify novel medications. This landscape has changed recently, as reflected by the new Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program and the introduction of many in vitro and in vivo models that could possibly improve our chances of identifying first-in-class medications that may control drug-resistant epilepsy or modify the course of disease. Other milestones include the study of new molecular targets for disease-modifying drugs and exploration of a systems pharmacology perspective to design new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Talevi
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CCT La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Carolina Bellera
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compound Research and Development (LIDeB), Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CCT La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
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Kovacs M, Fogarasi A, Hegyi M, Siegler Z, Kelemen A, Mellar M, Orbok A, Simon G, Farkas K, Bessenyei M, Hollody K. Multicenter retrospective study of patients with PCDH19-related epilepsy: The first Hungarian cohort. Epileptic Disord 2024. [PMID: 39017914 DOI: 10.1002/epd2.20264] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE PCDH19-related epilepsy occurs predominantly in girls and is caused by pathogenic variant of the protocadherin-19 gene. The initial seizures usually develop in association with fever, begin on average at 15 months of age, and often occur in clusters. Autistic symptoms, intellectual disability, and sleep disturbance are often associated. METHODS In our retrospective, multicenter study, we reviewed clinical data of nine children with epilepsy genetically confirmed to be associated with PCDH19. RESULTS In the Hungarian patient population aged 0-18 years, the prevalence of PCDH19-related epilepsy was found to be lower (1/100000 live births in females) than the reported international data (4-5/100000 live births in females). Four of our nine patients had positive family history of epilepsy (cousins, sister, and mother). We assessed brain anomalies in three patients (in one patient focal cortical dysplasia and left anterior cingulate dysgenesis, and in two children right or left hippocampal sclerosis) and in another three cases incidentally identified benign alterations on brain MRI were found. The first seizure presented as a cluster in seven out of nine children. In seven out of nine cases occurred status epilepticus. Six out of nine children had autistic symptoms and only one child had normal intellectual development. Seven of our patients were seizure free with combined antiseizure medication (ASM). The most effective ASMs were levetiracetam, valproate, and clobazam. SIGNIFICANCE The prevalence of PCDH19-related epilepsy is presumably underestimated because of the lack of widely performed molecular genetic evaluations. Molecular genetic testing including PCDH19 pathogenic variants is recommended for female patients with an onset of seizures before the age of 3 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Kovacs
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Pecs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Andras Fogarasi
- Bethesda Children Hospital, Budapest, Hungary
- Andras Peto Faculty, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marta Hegyi
- Bethesda Children Hospital, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Anna Kelemen
- Neurology and Neurosurgery, National Institute of Mental Health, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Monika Mellar
- Pal Heim National Paediatric Institute, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Orbok
- Pal Heim National Paediatric Institute, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Kristof Farkas
- Department of Paediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Monika Bessenyei
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Katalin Hollody
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Pecs, Pécs, Hungary
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Triono A, Herini ES, Gunadi. Genetic exploration of Dravet syndrome: two case report. J Med Case Rep 2024; 18:215. [PMID: 38649973 PMCID: PMC11036636 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04514-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dravet syndrome is an infantile-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) characterized by drug resistance, intractable seizures, and developmental comorbidities. This article focuses on manifestations in two Indonesian children with Javanese ethnicity who experienced Dravet syndrome with an SCN1A gene mutation, presenting genetic analysis findings using next-generation sequencing. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case series involving two Indonesian children with Javanese ethnicity whom had their first febrile seizure at the age of 3 months, triggered after immunization. Both patients had global developmental delay and intractable seizures. We observed distinct genetic findings in both our cases. The first patient revealed heterozygous deletion mutation in three genes (TTC21B, SCN1A, and SCN9A). In our second patient, previously unreported mutation was discovered at canonical splice site upstream of exon 24 of the SCN1A gene. Our patient's outcomes improved after therapeutic evaluation based on mutation findings When comparing clinical manifestations in our first and second patients, we found that the more severe the genetic mutation discovered, the more severe the patient's clinical manifestations. CONCLUSION These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive genetic testing beyond SCN1A, providing valuable insights for personalized management and tailored therapeutic interventions in patients with Dravet syndrome. Our study underscores the potential of next-generation sequencing in advancing genotype-phenotype correlations and enhancing diagnostic precision for effective disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agung Triono
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Jl. Kesehatan No. 1, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Elisabeth Siti Herini
- Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Jl. Kesehatan No. 1, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia.
| | - Gunadi
- Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery/Genetics Working Group/Translational Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
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Xia D, Zhang P, Chen Y, Liu X, Chen Y. Efficacy of pharmacological treatments for Dravet syndrome: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Seizure 2024; 117:90-97. [PMID: 38354598 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2024.02.004] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous anti-seizure medications (ASMs) have been developed to treat Dravet syndrome (DS). This network meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively analyse the efficacy of ASMs in DS patients, especially in non-seizure-free patients after treatment. METHODS PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched. The treatment efficacy was assessed by the percentage reduction in monthly convulsive seizure frequency (MCSF) from baseline or individuals who achieved at least a 50 % or 75 % reduction from baseline in convulsive seizure frequency (CSF). RESULTS Six randomised controlled trials with 633 participants and seven regimens based on four add-on ASMs-fenfluramine (FFA), stiripentol (STP), cannabidiol (CBD), and soticlestat-were included. All drug regimens were superior to the placebo at achieving at least 50 % and 75 % reductions in CSF, but only STP, 0.4 mg/kg/d FFA (FFA0.4), and 0.7 mg/kg/d FFA (FFA0.7) reduced MCSF. STP (50 mg/kg/d) had the highest correlation with reducing MCSF and achieving at least a 50 % reduction from baseline in CSF, followed by FFA0.4 and FFA0.7. Soticlestat and CBD may also be effective in reducing seizures in DS patients. CONCLUSION STP can be recommended as the first choice among the included drug regimens for reducing seizures in DS patients, while FFA0.4 may be considered the second choice. Other drug regimens can be used as alternative treatments. STP, FFA0.4, and FFA0.7 may consistently present favourable efficacy in most DS patients, while other regimens may present prominent inter-individual variability. Appropriate dose selection and intense monitoring are necessary when treating DS using these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dujiang Xia
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
| | - Yankun Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.
| | - Yangmei Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 74 Linjiang Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.
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Li L, Yuan L, Zheng W, Yang Y, Deng X, Song Z, Deng H. An SCN1A gene missense variant in a Chinese Tujia ethnic family with genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1229569. [PMID: 37576022 PMCID: PMC10412811 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1229569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFSP) is a familial epileptic syndrome that is genetically heterogeneous and inherited in an autosomal dominant form in most cases. To date, at least seven genes have been reported to associate with GEFSP. This study aimed to identify the disease-causing variant in a Chinese Tujia ethnic family with GEFSP by using whole exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and in silico prediction. A heterozygous missense variant c.5725A>G (p.T1909A) was identified in the sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 1 gene (SCN1A) coding region. The variant co-segregated with the GEFSP phenotype in this family, and it was predicted as disease-causing by multiple in silico programs, which was proposed as the genetic cause of GEFSP, further genetically diagnosed as GEFSP2. These findings expand the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of GEFSP and should contribute to genetic diagnoses, personalized therapies, and prognoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lamei Yuan
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wen Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiong Deng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhi Song
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
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