A needle in a haystack? The impact of a targeted epilepsy gene panel in the identification of a treatable but rapidly progressive metabolic epilepsy: CLN2 disease.

BACKGROUND: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) are a group of autosomal recessive, inherited, lysosomal, and neurodegenerative diseases that causes progressive dementia, seizures, movement disorders, language delay/regression, progressive visual failure, and early death. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2), caused by biallelic pathogenic variants of the TPP1 gene, is the only NCL with an approved targeted therapy. The laboratory diagnosis of CLN2 is established through highly specific tests, leading to diagnostic delays and eventually hampering the provision of specific treatment for patients with CLN2. Epilepsy is a common and clinically-identifiable feature among NCLs, and seizure onset is the main driver for families to seek medical care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of the Latin America Epilepsy and Genetics Program, an epilepsy gene panel, as a comprehensive tool for the investigation of CLN2 among other genetic causes of epilepsy. METHODS: A total of 1,284 patients with epilepsy without a specific cause who had at least 1 symptom associated with CLN2 were screened for variants in 160 genes associated with epilepsy or metabolic disorders presenting with epilepsy through an epilepsy gene panel. RESULTS: Variants of the TPP1 gene were identified in 25 individuals (1.9%), 21 of them with 2 variants. The 2 most frequently reported variants were p.Arg208* and p.Asp276Val, and 2 novel variants were detected in the present study: p.Leu308Pro and c.89 + 3G > C Intron 2. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that these genetic panels can be very useful tools to confirm or exclude CLN2 diagnosis and, if confirmed, provide disease-specific treatment for the patients.

ANTECEDENTES: As lipofuscinoses ceroides neuronais (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, NCLs, em inglês) são um grupo de doenças autossômicas recessivas, hereditárias, lisossomais e neurodegenerativas que causam demência progressiva, crises epiléticas, distúrbios de movimento, atraso/regressão da linguagem, deficiência visual progressiva e morte precoce. A lipofuscinose ceroide neuronal tipo 2 (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2, CLN2, em inglês), causada por variantes patogênicas bialélicas do gene TPP1, é a única com terapia-alvo aprovada. O diagnóstico laboratorial é realizado por testes específicos, o que leva a atrasos diagnósticos e, consequentemente, prejudica a disponibilização de tratamento. A epilepsia é uma característica comum e clinicamente identificável entre as NCLs, e o início das convulsões é o principal motivo para as famílias buscarem atendimento médico. OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados do Programa de Epilepsia e Genética da América Latina, um painel genético, como uma ferramenta abrangente para a investigação de CLN2 entre outras causas genéticas de epilepsia. MéTODOS: Um total de 1.284 pacientes com epilepsia sem uma causa específica e que tinham pelo menos 1 sintoma associado à CLN2 foram rastreados em busca de variantes em 160 genes associados à epilepsia ou a distúrbios metabólicos que apresentam epilepsia, por meio de um painel genético. RESULTADOS: Variantes do gene TPP1 foram identificadas em 25 indivíduos (1,9%), sendo que ; 21 apresentavam duas variantes. As duas variantes mais frequentes foram p.Arg208* e p.Asp276Val, e duas variantes novas foram detectadas neste: p.Leu308Pro e c.89 + 3G > C Intron 2. CONCLUSãO: Os resultados sugerem que os painéis genéticos de epilepsia podem ser uma ferramenta útil para confirmar ou excluir o diagnóstico de CLN2 e, se confirmado, fornecer tratamento específico para os pacientes.

Manejo das crises convulsivas na emergência pediátrica / Management of convulsive crises in the pediatric emergency

A importância das crises convulsivas na infância está na sua frequência e impacto psicossocial. O manejo na emergência tem como objetivo investigar sua etiologia e, se possível, tratá-la, prevenindo complicações e sequelas, além de encaminhar o paciente para acompanhamento ambulatorial quando necessário.

The importance of seizure crises in infancy relies in their frequency and psychosocial impact. The management in emergency aims at investigating their etiology and, if possible, treating them and preventing complications and sequelae, as well as referring the patient to outpatient follow-up when needed.

Sleep instability and cognitive status in drug-resistant epilepsies.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the sleep habits of children with drug resistant epilepsy and to correlate sleep abnormalities with epilepsy and level of intelligence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty five subjects with drug resistant epilepsy (14 males, age range 2-16.4 years) were recruited for this study. A control group was formed by 23 normal children. Two instruments to assess sleep habits were administered to the patients with epilepsy: a questionnaire on sleep habits (to preschool children) and a questionnaire on sleep behavior (for children aged more than seven years old); a cognitive test (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-WISC) was also performed. Patients underwent a complete polysomnographic study and sleep parameters, including CAP, were analyzed and correlated according to cognitive-behavioral measures in children with epilepsy. RESULTS: Children with drug-resistant epilepsy and severe mental retardation showed sleep abnormalities such as low sleep efficiency, high percentage of wakefulness after sleep onset, reduced slow wave sleep, and reduced REM sleep. Sleep microstructure evaluated by means of CAP analysis showed a decrease in A1 index during N3 in patients with more severe cognitive impairment. Children with epilepsy and cognitive impairment (n=10) had higher Sleep Behavior Questionnaire for Children (SBQC) total scores (65.60 ± 18.56) compared to children with epilepsy and normal IQ (50.00 ± 10.40), p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Children with drug-resistant epilepsy have a greater incidence of sleep problems regarding qualitative aspects, macrostructure, and CAP. The decrease of CAP rate and of A1, mainly during slow wave sleep (associated to REM sleep reduction), might represent a sleep microstructural pattern of intellectual disability.

Síndrome de West, autismo e displasia cortical temporal: resolução da epilepsia e melhora do autismo com cirurgia: [revisão] / West Syndrome, autism and epilepsy: resolution of the epilepsy and recover of autism after surgery: [review]

INTRODUÇÃO: Estima-se que um terço dos casos de pacientes com espectro autista vai apresentar ao menos uma crise epiléptica até a adolescência. Esta associação entre transtornos invasivos do desenvolvimento e epilepsia vem sendo amplamente estudada, mas ainda com inúmeros questionamentos sem resposta na literatura. OBJETIVO: Os autores apresentam o caso de uma criança, com quadro de Transtorno Invasivo do Desenvolvimento - espectro autista - e epilepsia de difícil controle submetida à cirurgia, revisando aspectos fundamentais desta associação. CONCLUSÃO: A partir do caso em questão e de estudos existentes, é pertinente questionar quais são os indícios que nos fazem acreditar que crises epilépticas recorrentes ou uma atividade elétrica anormal sejam responsáveis por alterações cognitivas, de linguagem ou de conduta e qual o tratamento ideal para estas crianças nas quais co-existem os dois diagnósticos.

INTRODUCTION: Some reports have indicated that one third of children with autistic spectrum disorder will present at least one seizure untill early adolescence. The association between autism and epilepsy is recognized but remains unresolved and poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: The authors present a child with autistic spectrum disorder and infantile spasms in the first year of life who underwent resective surgery for intractable epilepsy and discuss aspects of this relationship. CONCLUSION: Despite a growing number of studies involving autism and epilepsy we must point out how is the evidence that recurrent seizures or abnormal electrical activity can cause cognitive, language or behavioral abnormalities and what is the ideal treatment for these children in whom a neurodevelopmental disorder coexists with epilepsy.

Calosotomia em paciente com epilepsia generalizada primária e crises tônico-clônicas generalizadas refratárias: relato de caso / Callosotomy in patients with primary generalized epilepsy and generalized tonic-clonic seizures: case report

INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes com epilepsia generalizada primária (idiopática) podem, raramente, não responder ao tratamento medicamentoso e assim apresentar crises tônico-clônicas generalizadas (CTCG) recorrentes, incapacitantes e que colocam o paciente em risco de complicações graves. OBJETIVO: Nesse artigo é relatado o caso de um paciente com epilepsia generalizada primária e CTCG semanais, refratárias a diversos esquemas medicamentosos, que foi submetido a uma calosotomia. RESULTADO: No curto espaço de 3 meses de seguimento pós-operatório, o paciente não mais apresentou CTCG. CONCLUSÃO: A calosotomia pode ser um procedimento útil na redução da freqüência de CTCG refratárias, mesmo em pacientes com epilepsia generalizada primária.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with idiophatic generalized epilepsy (IGE) may occasionally have frequent generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) which are not adequantely controlled by antiepileptic drugs. Frequent GTCS pose a significant risk of injury and other complications. In symptomatic generalized epilepsies, corpus callosotomy (CC) has been shown to be effective in reducing the number of generalized seizures. OBJECTIVE: We report a patient with refractory, weekly GTCS in the context of a primary generalized epilepsy syndrome who underwent subtotal CC. RESULT: In the 3 months since operation, no GTCS occurred. CONCLUSION: Corpus callosotomy can be helpful in reducing medically-refractory GTCS, even in patients with primary generalized epilepsies.

Foreign body in children's airways

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical characteristics and the results of bronchoscopic treatment of children due to foreign body aspiration in a university hospital. METHOD: Time series of children who underwent bronchoscopies for foreign bodies aspirated into the airway between March 1993 and July 2002. Each patient was analyzed for age, sex, initial clinical diagnosis, nature and location of the foreign body, duration of symptoms between aspiration and bronchoscopy, radiological findings, results of bronchoscopic removal, complications of bronchoscopy and presence of foreign bodies in the airways. RESULTS: Thirty-four children, 20 (59 percent) boys, ages ranging from nine months to nine years (median = 23 months). In 32 (94 percent) children the foreign body was removed by rigid bronchoscope, and two resulted in thoracotomy. Foreign bodies were more frequent in children under three years of age (66 percent). A clinical history of foreign body inhalation was obtained in 27 (80 percent) cases. Most of the foreign bodies removed were organic (65 percent) and more frequently found in the right bronchial tree (59 percent). Foreign bodies were removed within 24 hours in 18 (53 percent) cases. The most frequent radiographic findings were: unilateral air trapping, atelectasis and radiopac foreign body. Major bronchoscopy complications occurred in seven children (22 percent), and there were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: More attention is necessary to the respiratory symptoms of aspirations, mainly in boys at early ages, with clinical history and compatible radiological findings. Most foreign bodies removed were of organic nature. In this case series, therapeutic rigid bronchoscopy was effective with few complications.