Lorenzo Ferri1, Francesca Bisulli2, Roberto Mai3, Laura Licchetta1, Chiara Leta1, Lino Nobili3, Barbara Mostacci4, Tommaso Pippucci5, Paolo Tinuper1. 1. IRCCS Bologna Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. 2. IRCCS Bologna Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: francesca.bisulli@unibo.it. 3. "Claudio Munari" Center for Epilepsy Surgery, Niguarda Hospital, Milano, Italy. 4. IRCCS Bologna Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy. 5. Medical Genetics Unit, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Dishevelled EGL-10 and pleckstrin domain-containing protein 5 (DEPDC5) mutations are found in a wide spectrum of focal epilepsies ranging from epilepsy caused by malformation of cortical development to non-lesional epilepsy, including sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE). A surgical approach has been anecdotally reported in patients with DEPDC5 mutations, but most of these cases had a lesional etiology. METHODS: We describe a stereo-EEG (SEEG) study in a patient with drug-resistant/non-lesional SHE. Patient was screened for known mutations associated with SHE. RESULTS: SEEG disclosed bilateral synchronous and independent activity prevailing on the right central-anterior cingulate cortex, without a clear spatially defined epileptogenic zone. Due to the lack of a clear epileptogenic zone, surgery was contraindicated. Years later a DEPDC5 mutation was identified. CONCLUSION: We suggest that genetic analysis should be considered before performing SEEG study in a patient with drug resistant non-lesional SHE, in the presence of seizures in wakefulness and unclear anatomo-electroclinical correlation. If DEPDC5 mutations are identified, the presurgical evaluation should be tailored to look for MRI-negative focal cortical dysplasia and a wide epileptogenic network. The appropriate management and potential benefit of surgery for genetic non-lesional epilepsy have yet to be clarified.
PURPOSE: Dishevelled EGL-10 and pleckstrin domain-containing protein 5 (DEPDC5) mutations are found in a wide spectrum of focal epilepsies ranging from epilepsy caused by malformation of cortical development to non-lesional epilepsy, including sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE). A surgical approach has been anecdotally reported in patients with DEPDC5 mutations, but most of these cases had a lesional etiology. METHODS: We describe a stereo-EEG (SEEG) study in a patient with drug-resistant/non-lesional SHE. Patient was screened for known mutations associated with SHE. RESULTS: SEEG disclosed bilateral synchronous and independent activity prevailing on the right central-anterior cingulate cortex, without a clear spatially defined epileptogenic zone. Due to the lack of a clear epileptogenic zone, surgery was contraindicated. Years later a DEPDC5 mutation was identified. CONCLUSION: We suggest that genetic analysis should be considered before performing SEEG study in a patient with drug resistant non-lesional SHE, in the presence of seizures in wakefulness and unclear anatomo-electroclinical correlation. If DEPDC5 mutations are identified, the presurgical evaluation should be tailored to look for MRI-negative focal cortical dysplasia and a wide epileptogenic network. The appropriate management and potential benefit of surgery for genetic non-lesional epilepsy have yet to be clarified.