ATP1A2-related epileptic encephalopathy and movement disorder: Clinical features of three novel patients.

OBJECTIVE: Variants in the ATP1A2 gene exhibit a wide clinical spectrum, ranging from familial hemiplegic migraine to childhood epilepsies and early infantile developmental epileptic encephalopathy (EIDEE) with movement disorders. This study aims to describe the epileptology of three unpublished cases and summarize epilepsy features of the other 17 published cases with ATP1A2 variants and EIDEE. METHODS: Medical records of three novel patients with pathogenic ATP1A2 variants were retrospectively reviewed. Additionally, the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched until December 2023 for articles on EIDEE with ATP1A2 variants, without language or publication year restrictions. RESULTS: Three female patients, aged 6 months-10 years, were investigated. Epilepsy onset occurred between 5 days and 2 years, accompanied by severe developmental delay, intellectual disability, drug-resistant epilepsy, severe movement disorder, and recurrent status epilepticus. All individuals had pathogenic variants of the ATP1A2 gene (ATP1A2 c.720_721del (p.Ile240MetfsTer9), ATP1A2c.3022C > T (p.Arg1008Trp), ATP1A2 c.1096G > T (p.Gly366Cys), according to ACMG criteria. Memantine was p) rescribed to three patients, one with a reduction in ictal frequency, one with improvement in gait pattern, coordination, and attention span, and another one in alertness without significant side effects. SIGNIFICANCE: This study reinforces the association between ATP1A2 variants and a severe phenotype. All patients had de novo variants, focal motor seizures with impaired awareness as the primary type of seizure; of the 11 EEGs recorded, 10 presented a slow background rhythm, 7 multifocal interictal epileptiform discharges (IED), predominantly temporal IEDs, followed by frontal IED, as well as ten ictal recordings, which showed ictal onset from the same regions mentioned above. Treatment with antiseizure medication was generally ineffective, but memantine showed moderate improvement. Prospective studies are needed to enlarge the phenotype and assess the efficacy of NMDA receptor antagonist therapies in reducing seizure frequency and improving quality of life.

Narrative review of brivaracetam for genetic generalized epilepsies.

BACKGROUND: The licensed treatment options for genetic generalized epilepsies are limited although many patients with these conditions require chronic pharmacological management with antiseizure medications and there are no curative surgical treatment options. Brivaracetam is being studied as a new therapeutic option for genetic generalized epilepsies. METHOD: In order to carry out a narrative review on the efficacy and safety of brivaracetam in genetic generalized epilepsies, a literature research was performed in Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane and Clinical Trials.gov databases. RESULTS: Promising results were found with doses ranging from 50 to 200 mg/day in terms of efficacy (with > 50% responder rates between 36 and 84%), tolerability, and short and long-term safety (24-57% drug-associated adverse effects), with most studies reporting adequate retention rates and an absence of serious adverse effects, in monotherapy or as adjuvant therapy, even in refractory epilepsies, special populations and in patients with previous use and/or therapeutic failure with levetiracetam. CONCLUSION: According to our review, brivaracetam is a valid treatment alternative in patients with genetic generalized epilepsies capable of improving patients' quality of life by reducing seizure frequency with minimal adverse effects.