OBJECTIVE: To classify the Lennox twin pairs according to modern epilepsy classifications, use the classic twin model to identify which epilepsy syndromes have an inherited component, search for evidence of syndrome-specific genes, and compare concordances from Lennox's series with a contemporary Australian series. METHODS: Following review of Lennox's original files describing twins with seizures from 1934 through 1958, the International League Against Epilepsy classifications of seizures and epileptic syndromes were applied to 169 pairs. Monozygous (MZ) and dizygous (DZ) pairs were subdivided into epilepsy syndromes and casewise concordances estimated. RESULTS: The authors excluded 26 pairs, with 71 MZ and 72 DZ pairs remaining. Seizure analysis demonstrated strong parallels between contemporary seizure classification and Lennox's terminology. Epilepsy syndrome diagnoses were made in 75%. The MZ and DZ casewise concordance estimates gave strong evidence for a major genetic influence in idiopathic generalized epilepsies (0.80 versus 0.00; n = 23). High MZ casewise concordances also supported a genetic etiology in symptomatic generalized epilepsies and febrile seizures. The pairs who were concordant for seizures usually had the same syndromic diagnoses in both twins (86% in MZ, 60% in DZ), suggesting syndrome-specific genes. Apart from partial epilepsies, the MZ casewise concordances were similar to those derived from Australian twin data. CONCLUSIONS: The authors were able to apply contemporary classifications to Lennox's twins. The data confirm genetic bases for common generalized epilepsies as well as febrile seizures and provide further support for syndrome-specific genes. Finally, comparable results to our Australian series were obtained, verifying the value of twin studies.
OBJECTIVE: To classify the Lennox twin pairs according to modern epilepsy classifications, use the classic twin model to identify which epilepsy syndromes have an inherited component, search for evidence of syndrome-specific genes, and compare concordances from Lennox's series with a contemporary Australian series. METHODS: Following review of Lennox's original files describing twins with seizures from 1934 through 1958, the International League Against Epilepsy classifications of seizures and epileptic syndromes were applied to 169 pairs. Monozygous (MZ) and dizygous (DZ) pairs were subdivided into epilepsy syndromes and casewise concordances estimated. RESULTS: The authors excluded 26 pairs, with 71 MZ and 72 DZ pairs remaining. Seizure analysis demonstrated strong parallels between contemporary seizure classification and Lennox's terminology. Epilepsy syndrome diagnoses were made in 75%. The MZ and DZ casewise concordance estimates gave strong evidence for a major genetic influence in idiopathic generalized epilepsies (0.80 versus 0.00; n = 23). High MZ casewise concordances also supported a genetic etiology in symptomatic generalized epilepsies and febrile seizures. The pairs who were concordant for seizures usually had the same syndromic diagnoses in both twins (86% in MZ, 60% in DZ), suggesting syndrome-specific genes. Apart from partial epilepsies, the MZ casewise concordances were similar to those derived from Australian twin data. CONCLUSIONS: The authors were able to apply contemporary classifications to Lennox's twins. The data confirm genetic bases for common generalized epilepsies as well as febrile seizures and provide further support for syndrome-specific genes. Finally, comparable results to our Australian series were obtained, verifying the value of twin studies.
Authors: Anna L Peljto; Christie Barker-Cummings; Vincent M Vasoli; Cynthia L Leibson; W Allen Hauser; Jeffrey R Buchhalter; Ruth Ottman Journal: Brain Date: 2014-01-26 Impact factor: 13.501
Authors: Bassel Abou-Khalil; Brian Alldredge; Jocelyn Bautista; Sam Berkovic; Judith Bluvstein; Alex Boro; Gregory Cascino; Damian Consalvo; Sabrina Cristofaro; Patricia Crumrine; Orrin Devinsky; Dennis Dlugos; Michael Epstein; Robyn Fahlstrom; Miguel Fiol; Nathan Fountain; Kristen Fox; Jacqueline French; Catharine Freyer Karn; Daniel Friedman; Eric Geller; Tracy Glauser; Simon Glynn; Kevin Haas; Sheryl Haut; Jean Hayward; Sandra Helmers; Sucheta Joshi; Andres Kanner; Heidi Kirsch; Robert Knowlton; Eric Kossoff; Rachel Kuperman; Ruben Kuzniecky; Daniel Lowenstein; Shannon McGuire; Paul Motika; Gerard Nesbitt; Edward Novotny; Ruth Ottman; Juliann Paolicchi; Jack Parent; Kristen Park; Annapurna Poduri; Neil Risch; Lynette Sadleir; Ingrid Scheffer; Renee Shellhaas; Elliott Sherr; Jerry J Shih; Shlomo Shinnar; Rani Singh; Joseph Sirven; Michael Smith; Joe Sullivan; Liu Lin Thio; Anu Venkat; Eileen Vining; Gretchen von Allmen; Judith Weisenberg; Peter Widdess-Walsh; Melodie Winawer Journal: Clin Trials Date: 2013-07-01 Impact factor: 2.486
Authors: Lata Vadlamudi; Roger L Milne; Kate Lawrence; Sarah E Heron; Jazmin Eckhaus; Deborah Keay; Mary Connellan; Yvonne Torn-Broers; R Anne Howell; John C Mulley; Ingrid E Scheffer; Leanne M Dibbens; John L Hopper; Samuel F Berkovic Journal: Neurology Date: 2014-08-08 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Peter Kinirons; Daniel Rabinowitz; Micheline Gravel; James Long; Melodie Winawer; Geneviève Sénéchal; Ruth Ottman; Patrick Cossette Journal: Epilepsy Res Date: 2008-08-23 Impact factor: 3.045