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Vitale G, Terrone G, Vitale S, Vitulli F, Aiello S, Bravaccio C, Pisano S, Bove I, Rizzo F, Seetahal-Maraj P, Wiese T. The Evolving Landscape of Therapeutics for Epilepsy in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3241. [PMID: 38137462 PMCID: PMC10741146 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare multisystem genetic disorder characterized by benign tumor growth in multiple organs, including the brain, kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. Pathogenesis stems from mutations in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene, which encode the proteins hamartin and tuberin, respectively. These proteins form a complex that inhibits the mTOR pathway, a critical regulator of cell growth and proliferation. Disruption of the tuberin-hamartin complex leads to overactivation of mTOR signaling and uncontrolled cell growth, resulting in hamartoma formation. Neurological manifestations are common in TSC, with epilepsy developing in up to 90% of patients. Seizures tend to be refractory to medical treatment with anti-seizure medications. Infantile spasms and focal seizures are the predominant seizure types, often arising in early childhood. Drug-resistant epilepsy contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and treatment approaches for epilepsy and other neurological features of TSC. While narrative reviews on TSC exist, this review uniquely synthesizes key advancements across the areas of TSC neuropathology, conventional and emerging pharmacological therapies, and targeted treatments. The review is narrative in nature, without any date restrictions, and summarizes the most relevant literature on the neurological aspects and management of TSC. By consolidating the current understanding of TSC neurobiology and evidence-based treatment strategies, this review provides an invaluable reference that highlights progress made while also emphasizing areas requiring further research to optimize care and outcomes for TSC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Vitale
- Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), F. Hoffmann–La Roche, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gaetano Terrone
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.T.); (C.B.)
| | - Samuel Vitale
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Francesca Vitulli
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Dental Sciences, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy (I.B.)
| | - Salvatore Aiello
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.T.); (C.B.)
| | - Carmela Bravaccio
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.T.); (C.B.)
| | - Simone Pisano
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.T.); (C.B.)
| | - Ilaria Bove
- Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Dental Sciences, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy (I.B.)
| | - Francesca Rizzo
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | | | - Thomas Wiese
- Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), F. Hoffmann–La Roche, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
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Labate A, Bertino S, Morabito R, Smorto C, Militi A, Cammaroto S, Anfuso C, Tomaiuolo F, Tonin P, Marino S, Cerasa A, Quartarone A. MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound for Refractory Epilepsy: Where Are We Now? J Clin Med 2023; 12:7070. [PMID: 38002683 PMCID: PMC10672423 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in both adults and children. Despite improvements in medical care, 20 to 30% of patients are still resistant to the best medical treatment. The quality of life, neurologic morbidity, and even mortality of patients are significantly impacted by medically intractable epilepsy. Nowadays, conservative therapeutic approaches consist of increasing medication dosage, changing to a different anti-seizure drug as monotherapy, and combining different antiseizure drugs using an add-on strategy. However, such measures may not be sufficient to efficiently control seizure recurrence. Resective surgery, ablative procedures and non-resective neuromodulatory (deep-brain stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation) treatments are the available treatments for these kinds of patients. However, invasive procedures may involve lengthy inpatient stays for the patients, risks of long-term neurological impairment, general anesthesia, and other possible surgery-related complications (i.e., hemorrhage or infection). In the last few years, MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) has been proposed as an emerging treatment for neurological diseases because of technological advancements and the goal of minimally invasive neurosurgery. By outlining the current knowledge obtained from both preclinical and clinical studies and discussing the technical opportunities of this therapy for particular epileptic phenotypes, in this perspective review, we explore the various mechanisms and potential applications (thermoablation, blood-brain barrier opening for drug delivery, neuromodulation) of high- and low-intensity ultrasound, highlighting possible novel strategies to treat drug-resistant epileptic patients who are not eligible or do not accept currently established surgical approaches. Taken together, the available studies support a possible role for lesional treatment over the anterior thalamus with high-intensity ultrasound and neuromodulation of the hippocampus via low-intensity ultrasound in refractory epilepsy. However, more studies, likely conceiving epilepsy as a network disorder and bridging together different scales and modalities, are required to make ultrasound delivery strategies meaningful, effective, and safe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Labate
- Neurophysiopathology and Movement Disorders Unit, BIOMORF Department, University of Messina, 98124 Messina, Italy;
| | - Salvatore Bertino
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (F.T.)
| | - Rosa Morabito
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Chiara Smorto
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Annalisa Militi
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Simona Cammaroto
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Carmelo Anfuso
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Francesco Tomaiuolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy; (S.B.); (F.T.)
| | | | - Silvia Marino
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
| | - Antonio Cerasa
- S.Anna Institute, 88900 Crotone, Italy;
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation (IRIB), National Research Council of Italy, 98164 Messina, Italy
- Pharmacotechnology Documentation and Transfer Unit, Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health Science and Nutrition, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Angelo Quartarone
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (R.M.); (C.S.); (A.M.); (S.C.); (C.A.); (S.M.); (A.Q.)
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Pearsson K, Eklund EA, Rask O, Rosén I, Sjunnesson H, Compagno-Strandberg M. The evolution of epilepsy surgery in tuberous sclerosis in Sweden: A national registry study. Seizure 2023; 112:54-61. [PMID: 37757549 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.09.016] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to characterize the Swedish cohort of surgically treated patients with TSC and explore differences in preoperative investigation and outcome over time. METHODS Data on patient and seizure characteristics were retrieved from the Swedish National Epilepsy Surgery Register. Two-year follow-up results were compared between the years 1997-2010 and 2011-2018. Preoperative investigations were re-evaluated. RESULTS Eighteen tuberectomies and seven callosotomies were identified. Seizure freedom after tuberectomy was achieved in 11 % (1/9) 1997-2010 and 56 % (5/9) 2011-2018. The number of tuberectomies increased each decade. Patients operated on in 1997-2010 had higher seizure frequency (median 175 seizures/month vs. 102) and incidence of infantile spasms (4/9 vs. 1/9, none after 2011). There was a trend towards surgery at a younger age (median 86 months 1997-2010 vs. 48 months 2011-2018). None with >200 seizure/month, SEGA, or history of infantile spasms achieved seizure freedom. Two patients underwent anterior callosotomy (1992 and 1994) and became free of drop attacks. Five callosotomies were performed between 2011 and 2013, one patient became free of drop attacks. Two complications with new neurological deficits were reported. The median age at surgery was higher in the callosotomy group (14 years) than in the tuberectomy group (5 years). CONCLUSION Seizure freedom after tuberectomy in patients with TSC has increased over time in our cohort. Signs of a heavier disease burden were more frequently observed 1997-2010 and associated with worse outcomes. Callosotomy operations were prevalent at the beginning of the 2010s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Pearsson
- Division of Clinical Sciences Helsingborg-Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Helsingborg General Hospital, Lund University, Helsingborg, Sweden.
| | - Erik A Eklund
- Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Sweden
| | - Olof Rask
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ingmar Rosén
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Neurophysiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Håkan Sjunnesson
- Center for Medical Imaging and Physiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
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Wei Z, Fallah A, Wang Y, Kuang S, Weil AG, Wang J, Liang S. Influence of resective extent of epileptogenic tuber on seizure outcome in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex-related epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Seizure 2023; 108:81-88. [PMID: 37116294 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify whether tuberectomy and tuberectomy plus are associated with different postoperative seizure outcomes in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) -related epilepsy. METHODS Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Proquest, Web of Science, Scopus, Biosis Previews) were searched without date restriction. Retrospective cohort studies of participants with TSC-associated epilepsy undergoing resective surgery that reported demographics, presurgical evaluation, extent of resection and postoperative seizure outcomes were included. Title, abstract and the full text were checked independently and in duplicate by two reviewers. Disagreements were resolved through discussion. One author extracted data which was verified by a second author using identified common standard in advance, including using a risk of bias tool we agreed on to evaluate study quality. RESULTS Five studies, with a total of 327 participants, were included. One hundred and sixty patients received tuberectomy, and 93 of them (58.1%) achieved postoperative seizure freedom, while the other 167 patients underwent tuberectomy plus, and 128 of them (76.6%) achieved seizure freedom after adequate follow-ups (RR=0.72, 95% CI [0.60, 0.87], P<0.05). Subgroup analysis found that 40 of 63 (63.5%) patients after tuberectomy and 66 of 78 (84.6%) patients after tuberectomy plus of a single tuber achieved seizure freedom (RR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.56,0.91], P<0.05). In the multituber subrgroup, 16 of 42 (38.1%) and 21 of 31 (67.7%) patients achieved seizure freedom, after tuberectomy and tuberectomy plus, respectively (RR = 0.57, 95% CI [0.32,1.03], P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS Tuberectomy plus is a more effective treatment than tuberectomy for patients with TSC-related intractable epilepsy.
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Satisfaction and seizure outcomes of epilepsy surgery in tuberous sclerosis: A Swedish population-based long-term follow-up study. Seizure 2022; 103:39-45. [PMID: 36279595 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2022.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate long-term outcomes of epilepsy surgery in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in a Swedish population. METHODS Demographic and seizure data was retrieved from the Swedish National Epilepsy Surgery Registry and medical records. Patient reported outcome measurements (PROM) were determined by telephonic interviews at long term follow-up. RESULTS Median follow-up was 6 y 8 m (range, 3-15 y 1 m) for tuberectomies (n = 15) and 3 y 6 m (range 2-10 y) for callosotomies (n = 7). Eight of the 15 tuberectomy participants were seizure-free. Four out of seven callosotomies were free from drop attacks. PROMs were provided by caregivers of 18/20 participants (data missing for two callosotomies). In the tuberectomy group, 6/8 patients were seizure-free and 3/7 had continued seizures; surgery was considered satisfactory and beneficial. Overall, satisfaction was high, even among patients who did not achieve remission; 13/15 tuberectomy responders recommended surgery to others with TSC and refractory epilepsy. None of the patients considered the surgery harmful. In the callosotomy group, satisfaction was low and congruent with the seizure outcome. All patients with continued drop attacks were unsatisfied; one considered surgery to be harmful. One participant, who would not recommend surgery to others, still perceived the surgery to be beneficial. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that both tuberectomy and callosotomy are effective treatment options for TSC. Factors other than seizure outcomes seemed to have a major influence on satisfaction and perception of the benefit of surgery.
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Gomes I, Jesus Ribeiro J, Palavra F. Monitoring and Managing Patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Current State of Knowledge. J Multidiscip Healthc 2022; 15:1469-1480. [PMID: 35860622 PMCID: PMC9292455 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s266990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disease of autosomal dominant transmission that, in most cases, results from the presence of pathogenic variants of the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, encoding hamartin and tuberin, respectively. It is a multisystemic disease, affecting most frequently the brain, skin, kidney, and heart. The wide variety of possible clinical manifestations, given this multisystem dimension, makes the follow-up of patients with TSC an exercise of multidisciplinarity. In fact, these patients may require the intervention of various medical specialties, which thus have to combine their efforts to practice a medicine that is truly holistic. The past few years have witnessed a dramatic leap not only in the diagnosis and management of TSC patients, with standard monitoring recommendations, but also in the therapeutic field, with the use of mTORC1 inhibitors. In this article, we review the clinical manifestations associated with TSC, as well as the treatment and follow-up strategies that should be implemented, from a multidisciplinary perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Gomes
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Filipe Palavra
- Center for Child Development - Neuropediatrics Unit, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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