Epilepsy in patients with WWOX‐related epileptic encephalopathy (WOREE) syndrome

Abstract

Objective. Epileptic encephalopathy (EE) is difficult to diagnose and manage. It can be caused by a variety of disorders, and its aetiology may guide management and prognosis. The human gene for WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) has been associated with epileptic encephalopathy, which presents in infancy with seizures, psychomotor delay, microcephaly, and optic atrophy. Methods. We report nine patients with WWOX-related EE from six families. We provide detailed descriptions of clinical presentations, imaging findings, neurophysiological manifestations, and related mutations. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was used to identify the mutations in the WWOX gene. Results. We established correlations between genotype and phenotype in our cases and previously reported cases. Significance. Our data support previously reported findings regarding WWOXrelated EE, indicating the importance of the human WWOX gene in brain development and the association between WWOX mutations and EE. Our study also highlights the power of WES, particularly in clinically challenging cases.

Zfra Overrides WWOX in Suppressing the Progression of Neurodegeneration

“…Whether WWOX participates in deciding neuronal migration and positioning in the brain cortex during embryonic development is largely unknown. However, the fact is that newborn patients with WWOX deficiency develop neuronal heterotopia and severe epileptic seizures [ 83 , 84 , 91 , 92 , 93 ]. Without WWOX protein, neurons accelerate their migration and accumulate in the neocortex, known as neuronal heterotopia [ 84 , 94 , 95 ].…”