Introduction
Nonlesional focal familial epilepsies
Epilepsy syndrome | Age of onset | Seizure semiology | Related genes |
---|---|---|---|
Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE; formerly ADNFLE) | First or second decade | Brief hypermotor or asymmetric tonic/dystonic seizures | CHRNA4, CHRNA2, CHRNB2, DEPDC5, KCNT1, NPRL2, NPRL3, PRIMA1 |
Familial mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (FMTLE) | Adolescence or adulthood | Focal aware seizures with intense déjà vu and other perceptive symptoms | DEPDC5 |
Familial focal epilepsy with variable foci (FFEVF) | First or second decade | Focal seizures depending on cortical area involved | TSC1, TSC2, DEPDC5, NPRL2, NPRL3 |
Epilepsy with auditory features (EAF) | Adolescence or adulthood | Focal aware seizures with auditory features or receptive aphasia | LGI1, RELN, MICAL1 |
Sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy
Familial mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Epilepsy with auditory features
Familial focal epilepsy with variable foci
Genetics of nonlesional focal familial epilepsies
Focal epilepsies related to brain somatic variants
Nonlesional nonfamilial focal epilepsies
Genetic testing in nonlesional focal epilepsies
Indication | Recommended genetic test |
---|---|
Familial nlFE Especially if characteristic of specific familial syndromes (e.g., EAF, SHE) | WES/WGS |
Drug-resistant nlFE During presurgical workup | WES/WGS |
nlFE with additional symptoms Intellectual impairment Autism spectrum disorder Dysmorphic features | WES/WGS |
Genetic testing in the presurgical evaluation of drug-resistant nlFE
Practical conclusion
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Individuals with nonlesional focal epilepsy (nlFE) should undergo a thorough examination for positive family history and hallmarks of specific familial nlFE (e.g., nocturnal hypermotor seizures, auditory seizures).
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Genetic testing should be performed on individuals with a family history suggestive of monogenic inheritance, patients with defined syndromes (e.g., epilepsy with auditory features), and individuals with additive symptoms (intellectual impairment, autism, dysmorphic features).
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Genetic testing should be considered during presurgical evaluation of patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy.