Early-onset encephalopathy with paroxysmal movement disorders and epileptic seizures without hemiplegic attacks: About three children with novel ATP1A3 mutations.

OBJECTIVE

Heterozygous mutations in the ATP1A3 gene are responsible for various neurological disorders, ranging from early-onset alternating hemiplegia of childhood to adult-onset dystonia-parkinsonism. Next generation sequencing allowed the description of other phenotypes, including early-onset epileptic encephalopathy in two patients. We report on three more patients carrying ATP1A3 mutations with a close phenotype and discuss the relationship of this phenotype to alternating hemiplegia of childhood.

METHODS

The patients' DNA underwent next generation sequencing. A retrospective analysis of clinical case records is reported.

RESULTS

Each of the three patients had an unreported heterozygous de novo sequence variant in ATP1A3. These patients shared a similar phenotype characterized by early-onset attacks of movement disorders, some of which proved to be epileptic, and severe developmental delay. (Hemi)plegic attacks had not been considered before genetic testing.

SIGNIFICANCE

Together with the two previously reported cases, our patients confirm that ATP1A3 mutations are associated with a phenotype combining features of early-onset encephalopathy, epilepsy and dystonic fits, as in the most severe forms of alternating hemiplegia of childhood, but in which (hemi)plegic attacks are absent or only suspected retrospectively.