OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical features of children with febrile seizures after Omicron variant infection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of children with febrile seizures after Omicron variant infection who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, from December 1 to 31, 2022 (during the epidemic of Omicron variant; Omicron group), and the children with febrile seizures (without Omicron variant infection) who were admitted from December 1 to 31, in 2021 were included as the non-Omicron group. Clinical features were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 381 children in the Omicron group (250 boys and 131 girls), with a mean age of (3.2±2.4) years. There were 112 children in the non-Omicron group (72 boys and 40 girls), with a mean age of (3.5±1.8) years. The number of children in the Omicron group was 3.4 times that in the non-Omicron group. The proportion of children in two age groups, aged 1 to <2 years and 6-10.83 years, in the Omicron group was higher than that in the non-Omicron group, while the proportion of children in two age groups, aged 4 to <5 years and 5 to <6 years, was lower in the Omicron group than that in the non-Omicron group (P<0.05).The Omicron group had a significantly higher proportion of children with cluster seizures and status convulsion than the non-Omicron group (P<0.05). Among the children with recurrence of febrile seizures, the proportion of children aged 6-10.83 years in the Omicron group was higher than that in the non-Omicron group, while the proportion of children aged 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years in the Omicron group was lower than that in the non-Omicron group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Children with febrile seizures after Omicron variant infection tend to have a wider age range, with an increase in the proportion of children with cluster seizures and status convulsion during the course of fever.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Seizures, Febrile/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Fever ; Epidemics ; Epilepsy, Generalized

Child ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Family ; GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Infant ; Spasms, Infantile/genetics* ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of a Chinese pedigree affected with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 9. METHODS: N048: epilepsy full version gene detection panel-V2 and genome wide copy number variation analysis were carried out on the genomic DNA extracted from the peripheral blood samples. Amniotic fluid was also sampled for single nucleoticle polymorphism array (SNP-array) analysis. RESULTS: Both the mother and her daughter were found to have loss of heterozygosity at Xq21.31q22.1, with which exons of protocadherin 19 (PCDH19) gene was deleted. SNP-array showed the fetus to be a female and had arr[hg19]Xq21.31q22.1 (89 558 626-99 701 006)x1. The mother, daughter and fetus of this family all had developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 9. CONCLUSION Variant of the PCDH19 gene probably underlay the Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 9 in this pedigree.
Cadherins/genetics* ; China ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Epilepsy/genetics* ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Protocadherins

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of two children with developmental epileptic encephalopathy type 66. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the two children and their parents. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out and suspected variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The main manifestations of the two children were neonatal onset seizures, hypotonia, global developmental delay, and facial dysmorphisms. Cranial MRI showed delayed myelination in case 1 and cerebellar dysgenesis in case 2. WES has identified a de novo pathogenic variant in the PACS2 gene in both patients, namely c.625G>A (p.Glu209Lys)(NM_001100913.3), which was reported as a pathogenic variant before. This variant was predicted to be pathogenic according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guideline (PS2+PM2+PP3). The seizures were controlled after combination treatment of sodium valproate and levetiracetam in both cases. At last follow-up, the motor and intellectual development of the 2 cases were improved. Compared with the cases reported, the clinical symptoms and signs of our cases were relatively mild, and the treatment effects were fairly good. CONCLUSION The variant of c.625G>A (p.Glu209Lys) in PACS2 gene is a hotspot variant of developmental epileptic encephalopathy 66. Gene testing can facilitate the clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Child ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Family ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Vesicular Transport Proteins/genetics* ; Whole Exome Sequencing

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Febrile seizure (FS) is a unique type of seizure that only occurs during childhood. Genelized epilepsy with febrile seizure plus (GEFS+) is a familial epilepsy syndrome associated with FS and afebrile seizure (AFS). Both seizure types are related to fever, but whether genetic susceptibility to inflammation is implicated in them is still unclear. To analyze the associations between postictal serum cytokine levels and genetic variants in the cytokine genes interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) in FS and GEFS+. METHODS: Genotyping was performed in 208 subjects (57 patients with FS, 43 patients with GEFS+, and 108 controls) with the SNaPshot assay for IL-1β-31 (rs1143627), IL-1β-511 (rs16944), IL-6-572 (rs1800796), and HMGB1 3814 (rs2249825). Serum IL-1β, IL-6, and HMGB1 levels were analyzed within 2 hours after seizure attacks using the ELISA in only 68 patients (38 FS, 10 GEFS+, and 20 controls). The allele distribution, genotype distribution, and correlations with serum cytokine levels were analyzed. RESULTS: Near-complete linkage disequilibrium exists between IL-1β-31 and IL-1β-511 variants. CT genotypes of these variants were associated with significantly higher postictal serum IL-1β levels than were CC+TT genotypes in FS (both p<0.05). CT genotypes of IL-1β-31 and IL-1β-511 variants were more strongly associated with FS than were CC+TT genotypes (odds ratio=1.691 and 1.731, respectively). For GEFS+, serum IL-1β levels after AFS for CT genotypes of IL-1β-31 and IL-1β-511 were also higher than for CC+TT genotypes. No significant associations were found for IL-6 and HMGB1. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variants located in IL-1β-31 and IL-1β-511 promotor regions are correlated with higher postictal IL-1β levels in FS. These results suggest that IL-1 gene cluster variants in IL-1β-31 and IL-1β-511 are a host genetic factor for provoking FS in Korean children.
Alleles ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Fever ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; HMGB1 Protein ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Multigene Family ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the tonic-clonic seizure (TCS) induced by intermittent photic stimulation (IPS)was generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS)or partial secondarily tonic-clonic seizure (PGTCS),and to analyze the relationship between them. METHODS: Video-electroencephalogram (VEEG)database of Peking University First Hospital from March 2010 to October 2018 were reviewed. Fifteen cases with idiopathic epilepsy who had TCS induced by IPS were included in this study, and their clinical and electroencephalogram (EEG)characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In this study, 4 of the 15 cases were boys and 11 were girls. The age of seizure onset ranged from 1 to 13 years. According to the medical records: 12 cases were considered as GTCS,while the remaining 3 cases were considered as PGTCS. The age at VEEG monitoring ranged from 2.5 to 16.0 years. All backgrounds of the VEEG were normal. Interictal discharges:generalized discharges in 11 cases, of which 4 cases coexisted with posterior discharges, 2 cases coexisted with Rolandic discharges, the other 5 cases merely had generalized discharges; merely focal discharges in two cases, one in the Rolandic area and the other in the posterior area; no interictal discharge in the remaining 2 cases. IPS induced photoparoxysmal response (PPR)results: 2 cases without PPR,the remaining 13 cases with PPR of generalized discharges, and 6 of the 13 cases coexisted with posterior discharges. IPS induced photoconvulsive response (PCR)results: GTCS in one case (contradictory to medical history),PGTCS in 11 cases (consistent with medical history),and GTCS and PGTCS hardly to distinguish in the remaining 3 cases. Of the three conditions above, there were generalized myoclonic seizures induced by IPS before TCS in 7 cases. CONCLUSION The medical history was unreliable in determining whether TCS was generalized or focal. Myoclonic seizures can coexist with PGTCS, and sometimes GTCS was indistinguishable from PGTCS, indicating that the dichotomy of seizure types need to be improved. Photosensitive TCS should be regarded as a continuum between focal and generalized seizures.
Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

Genetic generalized epilepsies (GGEs) are a group of epilepsy syndromes caused by genetic factors. A few of GGEs conform to the Mendelian patterns, while most of them show polygene inheritance. Researchers initially found that most of the genes associated with GGEs are related to ion channels including voltage-gated sodium channels, potassium channels, calcium channels and chloride channels, and ligand-gated gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor channels. Further researches have shown that certain non-ion channel genes are also related to GGEs, and that de novo mutations and copy number variants also play an important role in the pathogenesis of GGEs. Application of next- and third-generation sequencing promoted delineation of the molecular genetics of the GGEs, but also brought more challenges. Genetic findings have provided an important basis for the elucidation of the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis and precise treatment of GGEs. This paper provided a review for recent progress made in molecular genetics of GGEs.
Epilepsy, Generalized ; genetics ; Genetic Research ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; genetics

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to identify cognitive function and neuropsychological comorbidities in children with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 97 antiepileptic drug-naïve children (9.7 ± 2.9 years; 54 males and 43 females) with newly diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy, all of whom underwent a neuropsychological battery. The battery consisted of the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale, ADHD Diagnostic System, Children's Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. We investigated association between scores of the neuropsychological battery and epilepsy classification, lateralization of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) on electroencephalography (EEG), and variables related to seizures. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (14.3%) had ADHD symptoms. Three patients (4.1%) had depressive symptoms, and 9 (12.3%) had anxiety symptoms. Patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) had significantly lower full-scale intelligence and performance intelligence quotient scores than patients with idiopathic localization-related epilepsy (ILRE) (89.0 ± 17.6 vs. 96.3 ± 14.8; P = 0.030 and 88.9 ± 16.3 vs. 97.0 ± 16.4; P = 0.016, respectively). Patients with ILRE having unilateral IEDs had significantly higher full-scale intelligence quotient scores than patients with ILRE having bilateral IEDs and patients with IGE (99.9 ± 12.2 vs. 93.7 ± 16.1 vs. 89.0 ± 17.6; P = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that idiopathic epilepsy may be accompanied by various neuropsychological comorbidities even at initial diagnosis. Patients with IGE and ILRE having bilateral IEDs on EEG appear more likely to be at high risk of decreased cognitive function.
Anxiety ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Child ; Classification ; Cognition ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Partial ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Intelligence ; Male ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recommended for patients with epileptic seizures to rule out an underlying focal lesion. However, abnormalities in idiopathic generalized epilepsy, including childhood absence epilepsy, cannot usually be identified using brain imaging modalities such as MRI. Peri-ictal MRI abnormalities have been most commonly reported secondary to status epilepticus and are rarely observed in patients with focal seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Transient peri-ictal MRI abnormalities in absence epilepsy are extremely rare. A five-year-old girl presented with a three-day history of absence seizures that persisted despite continued treatment with sodium valproate. Electroencephalography showed bursts of generalized 3-Hz spike-and-wave discharges, during and after hyperventilation. Abnormal cortex thickening in the left perisylvian region was detected on T2-weighted brain MRI, and cortical dysplasia or a tumor was suspected. The patient started treatment with lamotrigine and was seizure-free after one month. The abnormal MRI lesion was completely resolved at the two-month follow-up. We report on a patient with childhood absence epilepsy and reversible brain MRI abnormalities in the perisylvian region. To our knowledge, this is the first report of transient MRI abnormalities after absence seizures. Transient peri-ictal MRI abnormalities should be considered for differential diagnosis in patients with absence seizures and a focal abnormality on brain MRI.
Brain ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Epilepsy, Absence* ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperventilation ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; Neuroimaging ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus ; Valproic Acid

No abstract available.
Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Epilepsy, Generalized*