SUMMARYObjectives: To describe the antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment of patients with early infantile epileptic encephalopathy due to KCNQ2 mutations during the neonatal phase and the first year of life. Methods: We identified 15 patients and reviewed the electroclinical, neuroimaging, and AED treatment data. Results: Seizure onset was between 1 and 4 days of age with daily tonic asymmetric, focal and clonic seizures in nine patients and status epilepticus in the remaining six. Electroencephalography (EEG) showed multifocal epileptiform abnormalities in nine patients and a burst-suppression pattern in six. All patients were trialed with adequate daily doses of several AEDs before they reached seizure freedom. Six patients (40%) achieved seizure control within 2 weeks of carbamazepine (CBZ) administration and five (33%) were seizure-free with phenytoin (PHT). The last four patients (27%) were successfully treated with topiramate (TPM) (two patients), levetiracetam (LEV) (one), and a combination of LEV with TPM (one). Most patients reached seizure freedom within the first year of life and remained seizure-free thereafter. Twelve patients had moderate-to-severe developmental delay at follow-up. However, the two patients whose seizures ceased within a few days of onset showed only mild cognitive impairment. Significance: Our findings suggest that drugs acting on sodium channels including CBZ and PHT should be considered as first-line treatment in patients with KCNQ2 encephalopathy. Voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels co-localize at the neuronal membrane. Therefore, the efficacy of drugs acting as sodium-channel blockers could be linked to their modulating effect on both channels. The type of KCNQ2 mutation might influence AED response as well as developmental outcome. Early recognition of KCNQ2 encephalopathy followed by the most appropriate and effective treatment may be important for reducing the neurodevelopmental impairment associated with this disorder.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of and to identify epidemiologic, genetic, electrophysiologic, and neuroanatomic risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a cohort of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Methods:A total of 103 patients with TSC were evaluated for ASD. A retrospective review of patients' records was performed, including mutational analysis. EEG reports were analyzed for the presence of ictal and interictal epileptiform features. Brain MRI scans were evaluated for TSC neuropathology, including tuber burden. Results:Of the 103 patients with TSC, 40% were diagnosed with an ASD. On univariate analysis, patients with ASD were less likely to have mutations in the TSC1 gene. Patients with ASD also had an earlier age at seizure onset and more frequent seizures. On EEG, those with ASD had a significantly greater amount of interictal epileptiform features in the left temporal lobe only. On MRI, there were no differences in the regional distribution of tuber burden, although those with TSC2 and ASD had a higher prevalence of cyst-like tubers. Conclusions:The development of ASD in TSC is not well understood. Given our findings, ASD may be associated with persistent seizure activity early in development in particular brain regions, such as those responsible for social perception and communication in the left temporal lobe. The presence of cyst-like tubers on MRI could provide a structural basis or marker for ASD pathology in TSC, although studies assessing their effect on cortical function are needed. Neurology Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder resulting from mutations in the TSC1 or the TSC2 gene.1,2 Neurologic involvement occurs in more than 90% of individuals and comprises several distinct lesions.3 Seizure disorders are present in 70%-90% of patients and often develop within the first year of life.4 Developmental and behavioral disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are also frequently diagnosed in TSC.ASD are characterized by impaired social interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. ASD affects between 17% and 63% of patients with TSC, a prevalence dramatically higher than that of the general population. 5,6 Studies suggest that mental retardation and early onset of epilepsy in TSC, in particular infantile spasms, are associated with the development of ASD in this group. 7,8 In addition, there is evidence of an association between temporal lobe epileptiform foci with ASD in TSC.9 However, investigations seeking to implicate TSC genetics 10 -12 or neuropathology [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] in ASD have yielded inconclusive results. Discrepancies between investigations may result, in part, from varying methods used to diagnose ASD. To date, no

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