Epileptic dyskinetic encephalopathy in KBG syndrome: Expansion of the phenotype

KBG syndrome is characterised by developmental delay, dental (macrodontia of upper central incisors), craniofacial and skeletal anomalies. Since the identification of variants in the gene (ANKRD11) responsible for KBG syndrome, wider phenotypes are emerging. While there is phenotypic variability within many features of KBG syndrome, epilepsy is not usually markedly severe and movement disorders largely undocumented. Here we describe a novel early onset phenotype of dyskinetic epileptic encephalopathy in a male, who presented during infancy with a florid hyperkinetic movement disorder and developmental regression. Initially he had epileptic spasms and tonic seizures, and EEGs revealed a modified hypsarrhythmia. The epilepsy phenotype evolved to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome with seizures resistant to multiple anti-seizure therapies and the movement disorder evolved to choreoathetosis of limbs and head with oro-lingual dyskinesias. Previous extensive neurometabolic and imaging investigations, including panel-based exome sequencing were unremarkable. Later trio exome sequencing identified a de novo pathogenic heterozygous frameshift deletion of ANKRD11 (c.6792delC; p.Ala2265Profs*72). Review of the literature did not identify any individuals with such a hyperkinetic movement disorder presentation in combination with early-onset epileptic encephalopathy. This report expands the phenotype of ANKRD11-related KBG syndrome to include epileptic dyskinetic encephalopathy.

Relationship Between Electroencephalography and Seizure Outcome in Typical Absence Seizures in Children

BACKGROUND

Typical absence seizures (TAS) are seen in idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Electroencephalography (EEG) contributes to syndrome characterization and counseling in an area where genetics does not currently play a significant role. Prominent interictal EEG findings are seen in juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) and are thus thought to be associated with less favorable outcome in any TAS case despite lack of evidence. Our study evaluates EEG findings and their association with seizure outcomes in children with TAS.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of 123 children over 10 years with extensive EEG analysis and medical record review. Phone interviews ascertained longer-term outcomes. EEG reviewers were unaware of outcomes.

RESULTS

Total cohort included 123 children with phone review completed in 98. Median follow-up was 5 years 9 months. Seizure freedom was seen in 59% off antiseizure medicines (ASMs). Interictal findings included focal discharges in 29%, fragments of spike-wave (SW) discharges in 82.1%, and generalized interictal discharges in 63.4%. Interictal SW was more likely in those who slept (100%, 18 of 18) versus those who did not (57%, 60 of 105) (P < 0.001). Outcome analysis found no associations between focal or generalized interictal findings and seizure freedom, relapse off ASM, occurrence of other seizure types, or response to first ASM.

CONCLUSION

Focal and generalized interictal EEG discharges are common in children with TAS and are not associated with poorer outcomes. These interictal findings were traditionally associated with JAE rather than childhood absence epilepsy and were thus believed to be associated with potentially poorer outcome, which is probably not the case.

Typical absence seizures in children: Review with focus on EEG predictors of treatment response and outcome

Typical absence seizures (TAS) occur in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) syndromes and are a common presentation to paediatric neurologists. Considerable overlap in clinical features of IGE syndromes comprising TAS often complicates prognostication. Clinical and EEG diagnostic features in TAS are well known. However, knowledge of prognostic features for each syndrome, whether clinical or EEG-related, is less clear. Perpetuated impressions in clinical practice regarding the role of EEG when used for prognostication in TAS are known. Assumed prognostic features, particularly those relating to EEG have been rarely studied systematically. Despite rapid expansion in epilepsy genetics, the complex and presumed polygenic inheritance of IGE, means that clinical and EEG features are likely to remain the main guide to management and prognostication of TAS for the foreseeable future. We comprehensively reviewed available literature and hereby summarize current knowledge of clinical and EEG characteristics (ictal and interictal) in children with TAS. The literature focuses predominantly on ictal EEG. Where studied, interictal findings reported relate to focal discharges, polyspike discharges, and occipital intermittent rhythmic delta activity, with generalized interictal discharges not thoroughly studied. Furthermore, reported prognostic implications of EEG findings are often conflicting. Limitations of available literature include inconsistent clinical syndrome and EEG finding definitions, and variable EEG analysis methods, particularly lack of raw EEG data analysis. These conflicting findings coupled with varying study methodologies cause lack of clear information or evidence on features which may influence treatment response, outcome, or natural history of TAS.

Response to treatment and outcomes of infantile spasms in Down syndrome

AIM

To estimate the prevalence, and evaluate presentation, treatment response, treatment side effects, and long-term seizure outcomes in all known cases of children with Down syndrome and infantile spasms on the island of Ireland.

METHOD

This was a 10-year retrospective multicentre review of clinical records and investigations, focusing on treatment response, side effects, and long-term outcomes.

RESULTS

The prevalence of infantile spasms in Down syndrome was 3.0% during the study period. Fifty-four infants were identified with median age of spasm onset at 201 days (interquartile range [IQR] 156-242). Spasm cessation was achieved in 88% (n=46) at a median of 110 days (IQR 5-66). The most common first-line medications were prednisolone (n=20, 37%), vigabatrin (n=18, 33.3%), and sodium valproate (n=9, 16.7%). At follow-up (median age 23.7mo; IQR 13.4-40.6), 25% had ongoing seizures and 85% had developmental concerns. Treatment within 60 days did not correlate with spasm cessation. Seventeen children (31%) experienced medication side effects, with vigabatrin accounting for 52%.

INTERPRETATION

Prednisolone is an effective and well-tolerated medication for treating infantile spasms in Down syndrome. Despite the high percentage of spasm cessation, developmental concerns and ongoing seizures were common.

Neurological involvement in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome

Our objective was to establish the rate of neurological involvement in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) and describe the clinical presentation, management and outcome. A retrospective chart review of children aged ≤ 16 years with STEC-HUS in Children's Health Ireland from 2005 to 2018 was conducted. Laboratory confirmation of STEC infection was required for inclusion. Neurological involvement was defined as encephalopathy, focal neurological deficit, and/or seizure activity. Data on clinical presentation, management, and outcome were collected. We identified 240 children with HUS; 202 had confirmed STEC infection. Neurological involvement occurred in 22 (11%). The most common presentation was seizures (73%). In the neurological group, 19 (86%) were treated with plasma exchange and/or eculizumab. Of the 21 surviving children with neurological involvement, 19 (91%) achieved a complete neurological recovery. A higher proportion of children in the neurological group had renal sequelae (27% vs. 12%, P = .031). One patient died from multi-organ failure.Conclusion: We have identified the rate of neurological involvement in a large cohort of children with STEC-HUS as 11%. Neurological involvement in STEC-HUS is associated with good long-term outcome (complete neurological recovery in 91%) and a low case-fatality rate (4.5%) in our cohort. What is Known: • HUS is associated with neurological involvement in up to 30% of cases. • Neurological involvement has been reported as predictor of poor outcome, with associated increased morbidity and mortality. What is New: • The incidence of neurological involvement in STEC-HUS is 11%. • Neurological involvement is associated with predominantly good long-term outcome (90%) and a reduced case-fatality rate (4.5%) compared to older reports.

Exploring the prevalence and profile of epilepsy across Europe using a standard retrospective chart review: Challenges and opportunities

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of epilepsy in four European countries (Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and Romania) employing a standard methodology. The study was conducted under the auspices of ESBACE (European Study on the Burden and Care of Epilepsy).

METHODS

All hospitals and general practitioners serving a region of at least 50 000 persons in each country were asked to identify patients living in the region who had a diagnosis of epilepsy or experienced a single unprovoked seizure. Medical records were accessed, where available, to complete a standardized case report form. Data were sought on seizure frequency, seizure type, investigations, etiology, comorbidities, and use of antiseizure medication. Cases were validated in each country, and the degree of certainty was graded as definite, probable, or suspect cases.

RESULTS

From a total population of 237 757 in the four countries, 1988 (.8%) patients were identified as potential cases of epilepsy. Due to legal and ethical issues in the individual countries, medical records were available for only 1208 patients, and among these, 113 had insufficient clinical information. The remaining 1095 cases were classified as either definite (n = 706, 64.5%), probable (n = 191, 17.4%), suspect (n = 153, 14.0%), or not epilepsy (n = 45, 4.1%).

SIGNIFICANCE

Although a precise prevalence estimate could not be generated from these data, the study found a high validity of epilepsy classification among evaluated cases (95.9%). More generally, this study highlights the significant challenges facing epidemiological research methodologies that are reliant on patient consent and retrospective chart review, largely due to the introduction of data protection legislation during the study period. Documentation of the epilepsy diagnosis was, in some cases, relatively low, indicating a need for improved guidelines for assessment, follow-up, and documentation. This study highlights the need to address the concerns and requirements of recruitment sites to engage in epidemiological research.

Monitoring the frequency and duration of epileptic seizures: "A journey through time"

Seizure monitoring plays an undeniably important role in diagnosing and managing epileptic seizures. Establishing the frequency and duration of seizures is crucial for assessing the burden of this chronic neurological disease, selecting treatment methods, determining how frequently these methods are applied, and informing short and long-term therapeutic decisions. Over the years, seizure monitoring tools and methods have evolved and become increasingly sophisticated; from home seizure diaries to EEG monitoring to cutting-edge responsive neurostimulation systems. In this article, the various methods of seizure monitoring are reviewed.

Maple syrup urine disease: Clinical outcomes, metabolic control, and genotypes in a screened population after four decades of newborn bloodspot screening in the Republic of Ireland

Since 1972, 18 patients (10 females/8 males) have been detected by newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) with neonatal-onset maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) in Ireland. Patients were stratified into three clusters according to clinical outcome at the time of data collection, including developmental, clinical, and IQ data. A fourth cluster comprised of two early childhood deaths; a third patient died as an adult. We present neuroimaging and electroencephalography together with clinical and biochemical data. Incidence of MSUD (1972-2018) was 1 in 147 975. Overall good clinical outcomes were achieved with 15/18 patients alive and with essentially normal functioning (with only the lowest performing cluster lying beyond a single SD on their full scale intelligence quotient). Molecular genetic analysis revealed genotypes hitherto not reported, including a possible digenic inheritance state for the BCKDHA and DBT genes in one family. Treatment has been based on early implementation of emergency treatment, diet, close monitoring, and even dialysis in the setting of acute metabolic decompensation. A plasma leucine ≥400 μmol/L (outside therapeutic range) was more frequently observed in infancy or during adolescence, possibly due to infections, hormonal changes, or noncompliance. Children require careful management during metabolic decompensations in early childhood, and this represented a key risk period in our cohort. A high level of metabolic control can be achieved through diet with early implementation of a "sick day" regime and, in some cases, dialysis as a rescue therapy. The Irish cohort, despite largely classical phenotypes, achieved good outcomes in the NBS era, underlining the importance of early diagnosis and skilled multidisciplinary team management.

Assessing the Utility of Electroencephalography for Staring Episodes in Children with Autism

Aim We aim to assess whether electroencephalography (EEG) has a justified role in assessing staring episodes in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); investigating for possible diagnosis of epilepsy. Methods This is a retrospective study on an Irish paediatric cohort. We reviewed EEG studies performed on children with ASD referred specifically for staring episodes to Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street between 2010 and 2017. Results There are 120 EEG tests; labelled as follows: 59.1%: normal, 22.5%: abnormal, 16.6%: borderline and 1.6%: 'limited study'. Background abnormalities are seen in 22.5% and interictal epileptiform abnormalities are seen in 16.6%. Absence seizures are captured in none. Conclusions Interictal EEG in ASD patients often yields false positive findings. EEG for investigating staring episodes in children with ASD are probably not useful.

Exploring the relationship between parent-child communication about epilepsy and psychosocial well-being

This study examined the relationship between parent-child communication and psychosocial well-being of 47 children living with epilepsy and 72 parents of children living with epilepsy. Open communication was associated with positive illness attitude, positive self-perception and greater health-related quality of life for children living with epilepsy; positive response to illness for parents; and more perceived social support and less need for epilepsy-related support for children living with epilepsy and parents. By contrast, closed communication was associated with poorer psychosocial well-being in children living with epilepsy and parents. Healthcare professionals should provide guidance for families living with childhood epilepsy on the importance of open communication in promoting greater psychosocial well-being.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the youth and parent versions of the Epilepsy Disclosure Scale (EDS)

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this paper was to describe the development and psychometric evaluation of new Epilepsy Disclosure Scales (EDSs) for youths with epilepsy (YWE) and their parents.

METHODS

Developing the EDSs for youths and parents comprised a number of stages, including questionnaire construction and item development for the new EDSs (consisting of a pilot and review of the newly developed EDSs) and psychometric evaluation of the measures to assess their appropriateness, factor structure, reliability, and validity. Psychometric properties were determined using a cross-sectional survey of 47 YWE and 72 parents.

RESULTS

Two scales were developed to assess the epilepsy disclosure behaviors of YWE and their parents; that is, the extent to which they tell and talk to others about the child's epilepsy. The youth version of the EDS comprised six items and had a unidimensional factor structure that explained 55% of the variance. The parent version of the EDS also consisted of six items, with a single factor explaining 47% of the variance. The suitability, validity, and reliability of the youth and parent versions of EDSs were supported by positive indicators, such as a high Cronbach's alpha (representative of good internal consistency) and the confirmation of a number of hypothesized relationships between epilepsy disclosure and psychosocial and illness attitude variables (demonstrative of their convergent validity).

CONCLUSION

Prior to the development of these instruments, no valid and reliable measures existed that could suitably capture disclosure amongst populations living with epilepsy. The youth and parent versions of the EDS are valid, reliable, brief, and easily administered and thus could prove useful in research as well as in the clinical setting. These scales will enable researchers and clinicians to profile the epilepsy disclosure behaviors of YWE and their parents, which play an important role and have implications both for the psychosocial wellbeing of families living with epilepsy and for epilepsy-related stigma.

The Temple Star Transitional Model of Care for epilepsy; the outcome of a quality improvement project

OBJECTIVE

The aim and objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and views of parents on transitional and adolescent care in young adults with epilepsy, and to develop a transitional and adolescent program for epilepsy.

METHODS

Data were collected from questionnaires completed by parents during focus groups exploring transitional care and inherent issues for young adults, aged 12-18years, with epilepsy. The questionnaire assessed the current knowledge and views of parents of children with epilepsy on transitional care, and following a presentation on "Transition in Epilepsy" (including themes such as self-advocacy, independent healthcare behavior, sexual health, psychosocial support, educational and vocational planning, health and lifestyle issues) assessed feedback on the proposed model of care in transitional and adolescent care.

RESULTS

Data were collected from 34 parents; the majority of parents, 74% (n=25), wish their children to be transitioned and transferred over to the adult epilepsy sites at the age of 18years. Over 82% (n=28) of parents believe the concept of transition should be introduced between the ages of 12-16years.

CONCLUSION

This quality improvement initiative identified the need for transitional care to begin at an early age. This study engaged parents in a process to improve adolescent and transitional care for adolescents with epilepsy. This study also highlights the importance of introducing a detailed preparatory phase for a transitional and adolescent care in epilepsy.

Parent perspectives of the challenging aspects of disclosing a child's epilepsy diagnosis to others: Why don't they tell?

Objectives This study aimed to explore the challenges parents of children with epilepsy (CWE) experienced when deciding to disclose their child's epilepsy diagnosis to others. Methods Using a qualitative exploratory design, interviews were conducted with 34 parents (27 mothers and 7 fathers) of 29 CWE (aged 6-16 years). Parents were recruited from a neurology clinic of a specialist children's hospital and from a national epilepsy association. Interviews were directed by a semi-structured guide informed by a review of the literature. Data were transcribed verbatim, imported into NVivo, coded and thematically analysed. Results Findings revealed five themes representative of the core disclosure challenges parents encountered, many of which promoted concealment and/or selective disclosure, namely: seeking normalcy for the child, the invisibility of epilepsy, negative reactions to disclosure, contending with poor public perceptions of epilepsy and coming to terms with the diagnosis. Discussion This study presents crucial information for healthcare professionals (HCPs) who help families to navigate the disclosure decision-making process. Providing HCPs working with families living with epilepsy with insight into diagnosis disclosure challenges will enable them to recognise the support needs of parents and work collaboratively with families to tackle such difficulties, ultimately improving their psychosocial wellbeing.

"I don't like talking about it because that's not who I am": Challenges children face during epilepsy-related family communication

OBJECTIVES

Childhood epilepsy not only significantly impacts a child's social relationships and psychosocial wellbeing, but it can also cause disruptions in family relations. Children living with epilepsy often rely on parental figures for guidance in relation to their condition. A paucity of research has examined the challenges for children when communicating about epilepsy with parental figures. This qualitative study explored the challenges faced by children when talking about epilepsy with their parent(s).

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 children (aged 6-16 years) living with epilepsy. Participants were recruited from a neurology department of a major pediatric hospital and from a national epilepsy association. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed.

RESULTS

Findings revealed four themes: communication impeding normalcy, parental overprotection, parental reactions to epilepsy-related communication, and restriction of activities as a consequence of epilepsy-related communication.

DISCUSSION

The study highlights the need for a greater understanding of parent-child dialogue surrounding epilepsy and where challenges lie for children in conversing about their condition. Parents and health care professionals play a pivotal role in facilitating an environment where children feel comfortable talking about epilepsy. This information will be instrumental in the development of a communication-based intervention for families living with epilepsy.

The stigma experiences and perceptions of families living with epilepsy: Implications for epilepsy-related communication within and external to the family unit

OBJECTIVE

This paper presents the stigma experiences of children with epilepsy (CWE) and their parents and outlines the relationship between CWE's and parents' stigma perceptions, demographic and seizure variables, and epilepsy-related communication within and external to the family.

METHODS

A mixed-method design was employed. In phase one, 33 CWE and 40 parents participated in qualitative interviews. In phase two, 47 CWE and 72 parents completed a cross-sectional survey.

RESULTS

CWE and their parents experience felt and enacted stigma via social exclusion, activity restriction, teasing/bullying, internalised negative feelings to epilepsy, concealment of epilepsy and parental stigma-coaching. Higher CWE and parent stigma perceptions were significantly correlated with greater epilepsy concealment from others outside the family and greater negative affect around epilepsy-related communication within the home.

CONCLUSION

As CWE and their parents grapple with epilepsy-related stigma they may inadvertently contribute to the silence encircling epilepsy through diagnosis concealment, stigma-coaching and/or by engaging in limited family dialogue about epilepsy.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Healthcare professionals need to be cognisant of broaching the sensitive topic of epilepsy-related stigma during their engagements with families living with epilepsy. Assisting families to appropriately engage in dialogue surrounding epilepsy is likely to improve the psychosocial wellbeing of CWE and their parents.

Epilepsy surgery in pediatric epileptic encephalopathy: when interictal EEG counts the most

PURPOSE

Traditionally, seizure onset localization in ictal electro-encephalography (EEG) is the main factor guiding resective epilepsy surgery. The situation is often different in infantile epileptic encephalopathy. We demonstrate the importance of the underrated interictal (rather than ictal) surface EEG in informing decision-making in epilepsy surgery for children with epileptic encephalopathy caused by subtle focal cortical dysplasia (FCD).

METHODS

We present a small case series of three children who had an epileptic encephalopathy with either epileptic spasms or tonic seizures. All three were thought initially to have normal neuroimaging.

RESULTS

Ictal EEG localizing features were seen in none and lateralizing features were seen only clinically in one of the three. However, the interictal EEG showed persistent and consistent focal irregular slowing in all, particularly after medically resolving the diffuse encephalopathy. Subtle FCDs were uncovered in all. Surgery was performed in all with excellent outcome.

CONCLUSION

In infantile epileptic encephalopathy caused by subtle FCD, the often underrated interictal surface EEG (particularly persistent foal irregular slowing) informs the most; not only to the target area for surgical resection but also to its extent. This may negate the need for unnecessary and sometimes non-informative invasive monitoring in these cases. A matter of "zooming out" to define the extent of a resectable abnormality rather than "zooming in" to define a seemingly localized epileptic focus that may change with time.

Atypical benign partial epilepsy of childhood with acquired neurocognitive, lexical semantic, and autistic spectrum disorder

Atypical benign partial epilepsy (ABPE) of childhood or pseudo-Lennox syndrome is a form of idiopathic focal epilepsy characterized by multiple seizure types, focal and/or generalized epileptiform discharges, continuous spike–wave during sleep (CSWS), and sometimes reversible neurocognitive deficits. There are few reported cases of ABPE describing detailed correlative longitudinal follow-up of the various associated neurocognitive, language, social communicative, or motor deficits, in parallel with the epilepsy. Furthermore, the molecular inheritance pattern for ABPE and the wider spectrum of epilepsy aphasia disorders have yet to be fully elucidated. We describe the phenotype–genotype study of a boy with ABPE with follow-up from ages 5 to 13 years showing acquired oromotor and, later, a specific lexical semantic and pervasive developmental disorder. Exome sequencing identified variants in SCN9A, CPA6, and SCNM1. A direct role of the epilepsy in the pathogenesis of the oromotor and neurocognitive deficits is apparent.

"I don't want them to look at me and think of my illness, I just want them to look at me and see me": Child perspectives on the challenges associated with disclosing an epilepsy diagnosis to others

OBJECTIVES

Disclosure of a concealable stigmatized identity, such as epilepsy, to those external to the nuclear family can be complex. Among children living with epilepsy (CWE), diagnosis disclosure has been identified as a quality-of-life issue and a source of psychosocial distress. Despite this, limited empirical evidence exists regarding the disclosure experiences of CWE. This study aimed to identify the contextual factors that act as challenges for CWE when disclosing their epilepsy diagnosis to others external to the nuclear family.

METHOD

This qualitative exploratory study consisted of individual interviews with 29 CWE (aged 6-16 years; mean age=11.17 years; S.D.=2.85). Participants were recruited from a tertiary referral unit in the neurology department of a pediatric hospital and through a national epilepsy association. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were thematically analyzed.

FINDINGS

The five main challenges to epilepsy diagnosis disclosure for children were: 1) CWE's desire for normalcy, 2) out of sight but in the mind, 3) contending with negative responses to disclosure, 4) the complexity of epilepsy, and 5) self and others' perceptions of epilepsy.

DISCUSSION

These findings provide valuable insight into the factors that present difficulties and impede epilepsy diagnosis disclosure among CWE. Such knowledge is important in informing engagements between health-care professionals (HCPs) and CWE. In particular, HCPs should remain cognisant of the challenges CWE face as they: (i) strive for normalcy and (ii) grapple with comprehending their complex neurological condition. Tackling such disclosure challenges could serve to enhance life quality, improve CWE's openness with others about epilepsy, and consequently work toward reducing epilepsy-related misconceptions and stigma.

To tell or not to tell: A systematic review of the disclosure practices of children living with epilepsy and their parents

Disclosing an epilepsy diagnosis to others is complex due to the condition's largely invisible nature and associated stigma. Despite this, little has been documented in terms of what this process involves for children living with epilepsy (CWE) and their parents. A systematic review was conducted to examine and synthesize evidence pertaining to: (i) the disclosure practices of CWE and their parents, (ii) enablers and barriers for disclosure, (iii) the impact of disclosure practices, and (iv) the relationship between disclosure management and other variables. The electronic databases PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched systematically. Any empirical, peer-reviewed journal articles with findings reported regarding the self- or proxy-reported disclosure practices of children aged 0-18years with any type of epilepsy and/or their parents were deemed eligible for inclusion. Two review authors completed all stages of screening, data extraction, and quality assessment independently with two additional review authors resolving any discrepancies. A total of 32 articles were included in the review. Only one dated study examined disclosure as a primary focus; in the remaining studies, disclosure was a subfocus of larger studies or pertinent qualitative themes/subthemes incidentally emerged. The limited evidence suggests that: 1) CWE and parents adopt varying disclosure management strategies - from concealment to voluntary disclosure; 2) disclosure decisions are challenging for CWE and parents; 3) many barriers to disclosure exist (e.g., fear of stigmatization and rejection); 4) only a limited number of factors that enable disclosure are known (e.g., openness by others to engage with and learn about epilepsy); 5) disclosure management is significantly related to a number of variables (e.g., child/maternal perceived stigma and seizure control); and 6) there are varying outcomes for CWE and/or their parents in accordance with the adoption of specific disclosure management strategies (e.g., disclosure resulting in greater acceptance and the receipt of support or evoking anxiety/fear in others; and concealment resulting in misunderstandings, embarrassment, and stigma-coaching), but the evidence remains inconclusive in terms of which disclosure management strategy is optimal. While some preliminary work has been conducted, disclosure of epilepsy is a topic that has been largely neglected to date. This is despite the fact that disclosure is a significant source of concern for CWE and parent populations. Future studies should focus on elucidating the unique contextual factors that inform disclosure decisions in order to develop a theoretical framework that can explain the epilepsy disclosure decision-making process.

Family communication in the context of pediatric epilepsy: A systematic review

In childhood chronic illness, family communication can impact the child's and parents' psychosocial well-being. However, little is known about family communication in the context of epilepsy in childhood. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the existing evidence available on communication strategies adopted by families living with childhood epilepsy, including; the facilitators, barriers and challenges experienced by families when choosing to communicate, or not, about epilepsy; and the consequences of this communication. Papers published in the English language prior to March 2015 were identified following a search of six electronic databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus. Studies were included if they involved a sample of parents of children with epilepsy or children/young people with epilepsy (0-18years of age) and used qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Following a comprehensive search and screening process, 26 studies were identified as eligible for inclusion in the review. No studies identified specific communication strategies adopted by families living with childhood epilepsy. Some studies found that talking about epilepsy with family members had positive consequences (e.g., communication as an effective coping strategy), with no negative consequences reported in any of the studies. The main barrier to communication for parents was an unwillingness to use the word "epilepsy" because of the perceived negative social connotations associated with the health condition. For children with epilepsy, barriers were as follows: parental desire to keep epilepsy a secret, parents' tendency to deny that the child had epilepsy, parental overprotection, and parents' tendency to impose greater restrictions on the child with epilepsy than on siblings without epilepsy. Future research investigating the communication strategies of families living with epilepsy is needed in order to create effective communication-based interventions for discussing epilepsy within the home.

NAPB - a novel SNARE-associated protein for early-onset epileptic encephalopathy

Next-generation sequencing has accelerated the identification of disease genes in many rare genetic disorders including early-onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEEs). While many of these disorders are caused by neuronal channelopathies, the role of synaptic and related neuronal proteins are increasingly being described. Here, we report a 6-year-old girl with unexplained EOEE characterized by multifocal seizures and profound global developmental delay. Recessive inheritance was considered due to parental consanguinity and Irish Traveller descent. Exome sequencing was performed. Variant prioritization identified a homozygous nonsense variant in the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein, beta (NAPB) gene resulting in a premature stop codon and 46% loss of the protein. NAPB plays a role in soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion attachment protein receptor (SNARE)-complex dissociation and recycling (synaptic vesicle docking). Knockout mouse models of the murine ortholog Napb have been previously reported. These mice develop recurrent post-natal epileptic seizures in the absence of structural brain changes. The identification of a disease-causing variant in NAPB further recognizes the importance of the SNARE complex in the development of epilepsy and suggests that this gene should be considered in patients with unexplained EOEE.

Chromosomal microarray in unexplained severe early onset epilepsy - A single centre cohort

BACKGROUND

Severe early onset epilepsy may lead to impaired cognitive and motor development, and consists of a group of specific and overlapping electro-clinical phenotypes which may be the result of an inborn error of metabolism, congenital or acquired structural brain lesion, known chromosomal or mono-genetic disorder. A significant proportion of cases however remain unexplained, representing a major diagnostic and management challenge.

METHODS

In this study we describe a cohort of children with severe early onset epilepsy and examine the clinical utility of chromosomal microarray (array-comparative genomic hybridisation, CGH) in this group of epilepsies.

RESULTS

In 51 children with unexplained severe early onset epilepsy, all of whom had chromosomal array tested, copy number variants were detected in 17.6% and pathogenic variants in 5.9% of infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Chromosomal microarray is a useful investigation in early onset refractory epilepsy and epileptic encephalopathy. Detailed review of the precise array abnormality and phenotypes associated are important for determining significance.

An outcome analysis of seventeen patients treated surgically for intractable extratemporal epilepsy

We studied the outcomes of seventeen patients treated surgically for extratemporal lobe epilepsy. A retrospective case review of medical charts was performed. Seizure freedom post surgery was appraised using the Engel classification system. Post-operatively seven patients (41%) were seizure free (Engel class I), four patients were class II (23.5%), two in class III (11.76%) and four in class IV (23.5%). Three patients (17.6%) suffered traumatic injuries due to seizures. The mean duration of epilepsy prior to surgery was 12.2 years and the mean number of anti-epileptic medications given was 6.5. Seizure freedom rates for surgical treatment of extratemporal epilepsy in this centre are similar to those of other centres. Post-operative morbidity in this centre was similar to other centres. Any complications resolved with no lasting impairment.

Vagus nerve stimulation for refractory epilepsy in children: More to VNS than seizure frequency reduction

PURPOSE

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is used increasingly as adjunctive therapy for refractory epilepsy. Studies of VNS in children report mainly seizure frequency reduction as a measure of efficacy and clinical details are often scanty. We report our experience with VNS in children with refractory epilepsy and emphasize the positive effects of VNS in terms of seizure severity.

METHODS

We reviewed 26 consecutive children who had VNS with a minimum follow-up period of 18 months. We examined their clinical characteristics, seizure types, seizure frequency, epilepsy syndrome diagnosis, and response to VNS in terms of seizure frequency and seizure severity.

RESULTS

Fifty-four percent of patients responded to VNS with >or=50% seizure frequency reduction. Patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and tonic seizures had a higher responder rate; 78% (seven of nine patients) (p < 0.01). Status epilepticus (SE) episodes were reduced or ceased in the four patients with recurrent SE. Seizure severity, duration, and recovery time decreased in all responders. Increased alertness was reported in all responders and three nonresponders.

CONCLUSION

Decreased seizure severity, recovery time, abolition of daytime drop attacks, and reduced hospitalization due to SE improved patients' lives over and above the benefit from seizure frequency reduction.

The controversial association of ABCB1 polymorphisms in refractory epilepsy: An analysis of multiple SNPs in an Irish population

Controversy has surrounded the reported association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C3435T of the ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1, MDR1) gene, with refractory epilepsy. Here we examine this question by: (1) attempting to replicate the original association, (2) assessing the association of other variants in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) with C3435T, and (3) evaluating and comparing our findings with other published studies. We defined drug-responsiveness as seizure freedom or a 50% or more reduction in seizure frequency in the preceding year. Drug resistance was defined as a less than 50% reduction in seizure frequency in the preceding year. We used a combination of map-based (tagging SNPs) and direct sequence-based methods allowing a comprehensive assessment of variation across the associated interval. Genotypic data on 8 SNPs was collected on 440 patients, of whom 242 were drug-responsive and 198 were drug-resistant. We were unable to observe the original association of drug-resistant epilepsy with C3435T, nor any association with other functional variants at SNP or haplotype level in the ABCB1 gene. Evaluation of other attempted replication studies suggest that if the original C3435T association is indeed real, it would appear highly sensitive to the phenotype used. Alternatively, the discrepant results of this and other association attempts may be indicative of the original report of the CC genotype at C3435T in ABCB1 being a false positive finding. Variability in phenotypic descriptions in genetic association studies may partly explain the inconsistency of attempted replications.

A pharmacogenetic exploration of vigabatrin-induced visual field constriction

INTRODUCTION

Use of the antiepileptic drug (AED) vigabatrin is severely limited by irreversible visual field constriction, an adverse reaction to the drug reported in approximately 40% of patients. Given the evidence suggesting an idiosyncratic drug response, we set out to detect genetic variation of strong, clinically relevant effect that might guide clinicians in the safe, controlled prescribing of this otherwise usefuldrug.

METHODS

Patients with a history of at least 1-year exposure to vigabatrin were enrolled at two independent referral centers. Using Goldmann perimetry, visual fields and the extent of constriction were calculated for each patient. We examined the correlation between the extent of vigabatrin induced visual field constriction and genetic variation across six candidate genes (SLC6A1, SLC6A13, SCL6A11, ABAT, GABRR1 and GABRR2). We availed of HapMap data and used a tagging SNP technique in an effort to efficiently capture all common variation within these genes. We attempted to replicate any positive associations before drawing conclusions from our results.

RESULTS

The degree of visual field constriction correlated with three SNPs and one haplotype in a cohort of 73 patients. However we were unable to replicate these findings in a second independent cohort consisting of 58 patients, suggesting the initial results were possibly false positives, or variants of weak effect.

CONCLUSION

Common variants of strong, clinically relevant effect do not appear to reside in the candidate genes studied here. This does not rule out the presence of genetic variants of weak effect in these genes, nor of variants of strong effect in other genes.

Examining the role of common genetic variation in the γ2 subunit of the GABAA receptor in epilepsy using tagging SNPs

INTRODUCTION

Mutations in the gamma2 subunit gene of the GABA(A) receptor, GABRG2, have been shown to cause generalised epilepsy syndromes in rare familial cases. Here we set out to examine whether common variation in GABRG2 predisposes to the development of common, complex forms of epilepsy in two large independent cohorts.

METHODS

We have applied a tagging single nucleotide polymorphism (tSNP) technique allowing us to satisfactorily represent common variation in the gene. However, to ensure maximal representation of functional variation and in particular in cases of low minor allele frequency (MAF), we have identified and forced known functional variation as tagging SNPs. We examined the association between tagging SNPs and subtypes of epilepsy in two independent cohorts; the first consisted of 677 cases and 384 healthy controls, the second of 684 cases and 277 healthy controls.

RESULTS

We failed to detect any variation that conferred an increased risk of disease development in both cohorts.

DISCUSSION

Our results suggest that common variants of strong effect in GABRG2 do not appear to play a role in the development of common, complex forms of epilepsy. This report illustrates a number of important features of study design in genetic association studies, including the simultaneous use of map and sequence-based techniques and the necessity of replication before robust conclusions can be drawn from results.

Atypical presentation of ataxia-oculomotor apraxia type 1

A subgroup of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs) associated with oculomotor apraxia (OMA) and other variable features has been reported. Ataxia-oculomotor apraxia types 1 and 2 (AOA1 and AOA2) belong to this subgroup and have been described in adults with early onset cerebellar ataxia. AOA1 is associated with oculomotor apraxia, severe sensorimotor neuropathy, choreiform movements, cognitive impairment, and cerebellar atrophy at an early age. We describe a male child with AOA1 who is homozygous for the G837A (W279X) mutation in the APTX gene. He presented at the age of 3 years 6 months with some atypical features including absence of OMA, chorea, and cerebellar atrophy. These manifestations, in addition to peripheral neuropathy, appeared at 8 years of age. We highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of AOA1 in children with early-onset cerebellar ataxia, once other well-known disorders such as Friedreich's ataxia and ataxia-telangiectasia have been excluded.

Progressive myoclonic epilepsies: a review of genetic and therapeutic aspects

The progressive myoclonic epilepsies (PMEs) are a group of symptomatic generalised epilepsies caused by rare disorders, most of which have a genetic component, a debilitating course, and a poor outcome. Challenges with PME arise from difficulty with diagnosis, especially in the early stages of the illness, and further problems of management and drug treatment. Recent advances in molecular genetics have helped achieve better understanding of the different disorders that cause PME. We review the PMEs with emphasis on updated genetics, diagnosis, and therapeutic options.

Malignant Refractory Epilepsy in Identical Twins Mosaic for a Supernumerary Ring Chromosome 19

We report identical twins with supernumerary ring chromosome 19 mosaicism, who had severe refractory epilepsy at an early age. The epilepsy was dominated largely by severe life-threatening tonic seizures. Both twins died, likely as a consequence of their severe epilepsy. They displayed no dysmorphic features. Eight cases of ring chromosome 19 have been reported in the literature, all to our knowledge without epilepsy. The clinical picture of these twins emphasizes the importance of carrying out a karyotype study on patients with early-onset epilepsy even in the absence of dysmorphic features.

Effect of imiquimod as an adjuvant for immunotherapy of genital HSV in guinea-pigs

Imiquimod, an immunomodulator which upregulates cell-mediated immune responses, was evaluated as an adjuvant for immunotherapy of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in guinea-pigs. In two experiments at separate research centres, animals were immunized with HSV glycoprotein and either placebo, 1 or 5 days of imiquimod, or complete Freund's adjuvant, 14 and 35 days after genital HSV-2 infection. Recurrent lesion days were then evaluated from days 15-91. In both experiments, immunization with glycoprotein and imiquimod most effectively reduced recurrence compared with unimmunized controls (53-69%, p < 0.001-0.05). A peak reduction of 70-80% was observed following the second immunization. This reduction was greater than that provided by immunization with glycoprotein and complete Freund's adjuvant in these experiments or those previously reported.