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Hypermotor-tonic-spasms seizure sequence related to CDKL5 deficiency disorder: a typical case Volume 24, numéro 6, December 2022

Vidéo

  • Hypermotor-tonic-spasms seizure sequence related to CDKL5 deficiency disorder: a typical case

 

We herein present a patient born at term without complications who had focal tonic and tonic-clonic seizures by the second month of life. Seizures first responded to phenobarbital. Global developmental delay and axial hypotonia were diagnosed at six months old (not sitting, smiling, or cooing). At nine months of age, a unique seizure sequence of hypermotor-tonic-spasms was noticed during a long-term video-electroencephalography (video-EEG), leading to the clinical suspicion of CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) based on a previous report [1]. Her interictal EEG did not show interictal discharges, however, the background was slow (3-4 Hz delta) with a consistent posterior-to-anterior gradient of high amplitude (300-400 μV). Due to the high cost of a genetic epilepsy panel during the time of diagnosis (2011), CDKL5 gene sequencing was ordered, revealing a de novo donor splice site mutation in intron 3, c.99+1G>A. This confirmed a pathogenic variant based on a previous report and ACMG classification criteria [2, 3]. CDD is considered a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, type 2 (OMIM # 300672). CDD presents with a full seizure sequence in 24% of cases, however, a combination of phases (predominantly tonic-spasms) is seen in 57% of patients [4]. Therefore, encountering this sequence could facilitate the care and early counselling of these families when genetic testing is costly or difficult to obtain.

Legend for video sequence

 

Video sequence 1.

The video depicts a nine-month-old female with a typical hypermotor-tonic-spasms seizure sequence associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder. From a drowsy-quiet state at the onset of the video, the patient suddenly becomes agitated, exhibiting a very brief hypermotor phase with both hips flexed alternatingly. A tonic phase involving all four limbs occurs simultaneously with bilateral anterior quadrant attenuation on the EEG. This lasts for about 12 seconds, followed by the spasm phase, which lasts for almost five minutes (shortened in the video). The patient cries after each spasm in the first half of the cluster. Settings: lowfrequency filter (LFF) at 1 Hz, high-frequency filter (HFF) at 70 Hz, notch ON (60 Hz), timebase at 15 mm/sec, sensitivity at 30 μV/mm.

Key words for video research on www.epilepticdisorders.com

Phenomenology: motor seizure, tonic-spasms

Localization: generalized

Syndrome: epileptic encephalopathy not otherwise classified

Aetiology: genetic

Test yourself

 

  • How frequent is the “hypermotor-tonic-spasms seizure sequence” in patients with CDD (with either a complete or partial sequence)?
    • 15%
    • 35%
    • 57%
    • 77%
    • 100%
  • Patients with CDD may have other seizure types including absences, atonic, clonic, or spasms.
    • False
    • True

Note: Reading the manuscript provides an answer to all questions. Correct answers may be accessed on the website, www.epilepticdisorders.com.

Supplementary material

Summary slides accompanying the manuscript are available at www.epilepticdisorders.com.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Disclosures

None.

Licence Cette œuvre est mise à disposition selon les termes de la Licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale - Pas de Modification 4.0 International