A case of carbonic anhydrase type VA deficiency presenting as West syndrome in an infant with a novel mutation in the CA-VA gene.

Carbonic anhydrase VA (CA-VA) deficiency is a rare autosomal-recessive inborn error of metabolism. It is imperative to consider CA-VA deficiency as a differential diagnosis in neonates with hyperammonemia not attributed to defects in urea cycle enzymes, organic acid disorders, hypoglycemia, and primary hyperlactatemia. The case described in this report had a metabolic crisis on day three of life with biochemical abnormalities demonstrating hypoglycemia, elevated ammonia, and lactate. At eight months, he presented with developmental delay and infantile spasms. Considering the history of consanguinity and infantile spasms, clinical exome sequencing was done, which revealed a pathogenic novel mutation suggestive of CA-VA deficiency. On review of the literature, we found that about 21 affected individuals have been reported to date. Unprovoked seizures or epilepsy have not yet been described in CA-VA deficiency. This report expands the phenotypic spectrum of neurological manifestations of CA-VA deficiency and adds to the existing number of cases in the reported literature.

Favorable response to classic ketogenic diet in a child with anti-GAD 65 antibody mediated super refractory status epilepticus.

Autoimmune encephalitis refers to a spectrum of inflammatory brain diseases which can present as drug-resistant seizures in children. Hereby, we report a case of anti-GAD-65 antibody encephalitis in a 7-year-old child who presented with superrefractory status epilepticus (SRSE). The traditional management with multiple anti-seizure medications at appropriate dosage and immunotherapy was tried despite which the child continued to have seizures. Hence the child was initiated on a classic ketogenic diet. He achieved ketosis within 48 h of diet initiation and there was a drastic reduction in the seizure frequency followed by a completed remission. Hence, this non-pharmacological intervention was an effective adjunct in achieving seizure control in our patient. A ketogenic diet has been sparingly used for the management of post-encephalitic epilepsy and autoimmune epilepsy. However, the data onthe effectiveness of the ketogenic diet in the management of autoimmune encephalitis is scarce. Starting KD early in the disease course helped not only in seizure control but also preserved the cognitive and neurological well-being of the child.