Variante patogénica en el gen PCDH19 en una paciente con epilepsia y discapacidad cognitiva / Pathogenic variant in the PCDH19 gene in a patient with epilepsy and cognitive disability

INTRODUCCIÓN: La asociación de casos familiares de epilepsia y discapacidad intelectual (DI) en mujeres fue reportada en 1971. El año 2008, se identificó el rol de variantes patogénicas del gen PCDH19 en algunas familias. La enfermedad se presenta con crisis febriles en cluster, DI y rasgos autistas. La mayoría se debe a variantes de novo, pero hay algunos casos heredados por un modo peculiar de transmisión ligada X. OBJETIVO: Comunicar el caso de una paciente con epilepsia portadora de una variante patogénica en el gen PCDH1 9, revisando la historia natural de la enfermedad y la evidencia disponible para su manejo. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente femenina, con antecedentes de embarazo y período perinatal normal. A los 6 meses, estando febril, presentó crisis focales motoras en cluster que repitieron a los 14, 18, 21 meses y 3 años siempre asociadas a fiebre, presentando incluso estatus epiléptico. Mantiene biterapia con topiramato y ácido valproico, completando 13 años sin crisis. El estudio del gen SCN1A no mostró anomalías y el estudio del gen PCDH19 reveló una variante patogénica en heterocigosis, "de novo". La paciente ha evolucionado con DI y alteraciones conductuales severas que requieren aten ción de salud mental. CONCLUSIONES: Las variantes patogénicas PCDH19 tienen expresión fenotípica variada. El diagnóstico genético debe sospecharse con la clínica. La morbilidad psiquiátrica a largo plazo puede ser incapacitante.

INTRODUCTION: The association of family cases of epilepsy and intellectual disability in women was reported in 1971. In 2008, the role of pathogenic variants of the PCDH19 gene in some families were identified. The disease presents with febrile seizure clusters, intellectual disability, and autistic features. Most cases are due to de novo variants, however, there are some inherited cases, with an atypical way of X-linked transmission. OBJECTIVE: To report the case of a patient with epilepsy carrier of a pathogenic variant of the PCDH19 gene, reviewing the natural history of this condition and the available evidence for its management. CLINICAL CASE: Female patient, with normal history of pregnancy and perinatal period. At 6 months, while febrile, she presented focal motor seizure clusters that repeated at 14, 18, 21 months and 3 years old, always associated with fever, even presenting status epilepticus. She is on therapy with topiramate and valproic acid, achieving 13 seizure-free years. The analysis of the SCN1A gene showed no abnormalities and the study of the PCDH19 gene revealed a de novo heterozygous pathogenic variant. The patient evolved with intellectual disability and severe behavioral disorders that require mental health team support. CONCLUSIONS: PCDH19 pathogenic variants have varied phenotypic expression. The genetic diagnosis should be guided with the clinical features. Long-term psychiatric morbidity can be disabling.

Clinical characteristics of PCDH19-female limited epilepsy / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with PCDH19-female limited epilepsy (PCDH19-FE).@*Methods@#The clinical data of 60 female epilepsy patients with PCDH19 gene heterozygous variations at the Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital from October 2007 to December 2018 were collected and analyzed retrospectively, their clinical manifestations, accessory examination and follow-up treatment were summarized.@*Results@#Data of a total of 60 cases of PCDH19-FE were collected. The seizure onset occurred between 4 and 42 months of age (median: 11 months of age). Focal seizures occurred in 47 patients (78%), generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) occurred in 30 patients (50%), and other rare types of seizures included atypical absence, myoclonic, clonic, tonic, and atonic seizures. Two or more seizures types existed in 24 patients (40%), and seven patients (12%) had attacks of status epilepticus. Sensitivity to fever was observed in 47 out of them (78%) and clustering of seizures as found in all patients. During the interictal phase, focal discharges were monitored in 22 cases (22/45, 49%), multifocal discharges in 12 cases (12/45, 27%), widely discharging in 2 cases (4%), and both focal and widely discharging in 9 cases (20%). Clinical seizures were detected in 30 patients during the electroencephalogram (EEG) recording, including focal seizures in 22 cases, GTCS seizures in 8 cases, tonic seizure in three cases, myoclonic seizure followed by GTCS in one case, and two types of seizures in four cases. Before seizure onset, 57 patients had normal development and three patients had delayed language development. After seizure onset, varied degrees of intelligence disability were present in 38 cases (63%), language delay in 36 cases (60%), and gait instability in 10 cases (17%). Autistic features occurred in 17 cases (28%); and other behavioral problems like learning difficulties, personality, or emotional disorders existed in 33 cases (55%). Age at last follow-up ranged from one year and 3 months to 22 years and 3 months of age, 17 patients (28%) were seizure-free for more than 2 years (5 to 22 years at the last follow-up). The efficiency of antiepileptic drugs were 65% (33/51) in sodium valproate, 63% (27/43) in levetiracetam and 59% (20/34) in topiramate.@*Conclusions@#The clinical features of PCDH19-FE are characterized by clustering of seizures, focal seizures in most cases, sensitivity to fever mostly, focal discharges principally in EEG, varied degrees of intellectual disability or movement disorder, combined with autism spectrum disorders in partial and high efficiency in sodium valproate or levetiracetam treatment.

A Case of Effective Treatment of a Patient with PCDH 19-Related Epilepsy using Corticosteroid / 대한소아신경학회지

An uncommon female-limited intractable epilepsy, protocadherin (PCDH) 19-related epilepsy, is characterized by mutations in the PCDH 19 gene, located on chromosome X. Clinical symptoms include early onset, fever sensitivity, focal seizures and psychomotor retardation. PCDH 19-related epilepsy is unresponsive to conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), but corticosteroid is reported to be effective in a few cases. We report a case of a 25-month-old girl who was admitted to our hospital due to developmental regression, accompanied by aggravated seizures with fever. Although several conventional AEDs were administered, the frequency and severity of seizures increased with mild fever, and the symptoms did not improve. Considering possible immune, and inflammatory involvement in seizure generation, the patient was administered corticosteroid treatment during the acute phase. Corticosteroid dramatically improved seizures and her development gradually. The patient was finally diagnosed with PCDH 19-related epilepsy in genomic evaluation. We observed the effect of corticosteroid on intractable epilepsy in patient with PCDH 19 mutation. If a female patient whose seizures are resistant to conventional AEDs or easily provoked by mild fever, has developmental delay or developmental regression, this may be an important clinical clue to the early diagnosis of PCDH 19-related epilepsy.