Familial Lennox-Gastaut syndrome in male siblings with a novel DCX mutation and anterior pachygyria

Epilepsia. 2010 Sep;51(9):1902-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2010.02694.x.

Abstract

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) has numerous causes,but only rarely has familial recurrence been observed. We studied a family in which three male members had severe epilepsy and intellectual disability. The proband had seizure onset at 7 years of age with atonic, myoclonic, atypical absence, and tonic seizures with slow spike-wave on electroencephalography (EEG). One living sibling had a similar clinical pattern. One deceased sibling was known to have had seizures with intellectual disability. Neuroimaging revealed anterior predominant pachygyria. DNA sequencing of the gene doublecortin (DCX) on the X chromosome revealed a novel missense mutation in the two living affected male siblings. The occurrence of three affected male family members with proven or suspected LGS in this family was puzzling and only solved by a combination of magnetic resonance (MR) and molecular genetics evaluations. This finding provided essential information for genetic counseling.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics
  • Doublecortin Domain Proteins
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / diagnosis
  • Epilepsies, Myoclonic / genetics
  • Epilepsy / diagnosis
  • Epilepsy / genetics*
  • Epilepsy, Generalized / diagnosis
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lissencephaly / diagnosis
  • Lissencephaly / genetics*
  • Male
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation, Missense / genetics*
  • Neuropeptides / genetics*
  • Pedigree
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Siblings*
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • ADGRG1 protein, human
  • DCX protein, human
  • Doublecortin Domain Proteins
  • Doublecortin Protein
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled