ObjectiveTo report the clinical manifestations and genetic characteristics of a child with epilepsy caused by a de novo mutation in the HCN1 gene. MethodsThe clinical data and HCN1 gene mutation characteristics of a child with epilepsy admitted to our hospital in May 2020 were analyzed, and the relevant domestic and foreign literature were reviewed. ResultsA 7-month-old male child developed epileptic seizures for the first time, with various forms of seizures, beginning with atonic seizures, followed by febrile seizures, focal seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and absence seizures. During hospitalization, his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), hematuria tandem mass spectrometry (HVMS), cranial imaging and other examinations showed no obvious abnormality. The results of genetic testing showed that there was a heterozygous missense mutation c.839A>C (p.Gln280Pro) in the second exon region of the HCN1 gene of the child, and neither of his parents carried the mutation, suggesting that the mutation is novel. According to the guidelines of America Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variation was rated as likely pathogenic. The child was diagnosed with HCN1 gene mutation-related epilepsy and was treated with a combination of levetiracetam and sodium valproate. The child’s epilepsy was well controlled and discharged when his condition was stable. Following up to now after discharge, the patient is prone to convulsions during the course of febrile disease, but his growth and development level is normal. Literature review shows that HCN1 gene mutation-related epilepsy is mainly de novo in patients, most of which are located in the 2nd and 4th exon regions. ConclusionsFor children with clinically unexplained early-onset epilepsy, gene sequencing should be performed as soon as possible to analyze possible genetic etiology, which will help confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment.
Febrile seizures (FS) are one of the most common neurological disorders in pediatrics, commonly seen in children from three months to five years of age. Most children with FS have a good prognosis, but some febrile convulsions progress to refractory epilepsy (RE). Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder , and refractory epilepsy accounts for approximately one-third of epilepsies. The etiology of refractory epilepsy is currently complex and diverse, and its mechanisms are not fully understood. There are many pathophysiological changes that occur after febrile convulsions, such as inflammatory responses, changes in the blood-brain barrier, and oxidative stress, which can subsequently potentially lead to refractory epilepsy, and inflammation is always in tandem with all physiological changes as the main response. This article focuses on the pathogenesis of refractory epilepsy resulting from post-febrile convulsions.
Febrile seizure is one of the most common emergencies in children, accounting for about 30% of all types of children, and the most common among children aged 6 months to 5 years. At the same time, children in this age group are at the peak of growth and development, and the content of various trace elements in the body is prone to abnormalities. At present, there are few related studies on febrile seizure and trace elements in children. This paper summarizes the related studies on febrile seizure and trace elements in order to provide theoretical guidance for the prevention and treatment of febrile seizure
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of cytokines on Febrile seizures (FS) in children with febrile seizures (Febrile seizures), febrile seizures duration and prognosis, and to explore the correlation between cytokines and the clinical manifestations and prognosis of FS. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on 121 children with FS (77 cases in the simple FS group and 44 cases in the complex FS group) who were treated in the pediatrics department of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from January 2021 to October 2022 as the experimental group, including 71 males and 50 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.42:1, according to the type of attack (93 cases in the comprehensive group, 44 cases in the complex FS group). The focal group (28 cases) and convulsion duration (91 cases in <5 min group and 30 cases in ≥5 min group) were divided into groups, and 127 cases of children with fever but no convulsions were compared with the control group. In addition, 121 children with FS were followed up for 1 year by neurology specialist outpatient department and telephone follow-up. According to the follow-up, they were divided into the first course group, the relapse group and the secondary epilepsy group, so as to further explore the correlation between cytokines and the prognosis of children with FS. ResultsExperimental group compared with control group: Serum IL-1β (1.38 pg/mL), IL-2 (2.26 pg/mL), IL-4 (1.53 pg/mL), IL-6 (10.51 pg/mL), IL-10 (3.09 pg/mL), IL-12p70 (1.74 pg/mL), TNF-α (2.11 pg/mL), IFN-γ (46.56 pg/mL), IL-1β (1.38 pg/mL), IL-1β (1.26 pg/mL), IL-4 (1.53 pg/mL), IL-6 (10.51 pg/mL), IL-10 (3.09 pg/mL), IL-12P70 (1.74 pg/mL), TNF-α (2.11 pg/mL), IFN-γ (46.56 pg/mL). IFN-α (25.92 pg/mL) levels were higher, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the simple group and the complex group (P>0.05). <5 min group compared with control group: serum levels of IL-2 (2.32 pg/mL), IL-4 (1.53 pg/mL), IL-6 (9.65 pg/mL), IL-12p70 (1.74 pg/mL), TNF-α (2.11 pg/mL), IFN-γ (44.63 pg/mL), IFN-α (29.67 pg/mL) were higher, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with control group, the levels of IL-2 (2.06 pg/mL), IL-6 (14.67 pg/mL), IL-12p70 (1.97 pg/mL), IFN-γ (58.56 pg/mL) and IFN-α (17.50 pg/mL) in ≥5 min group were higher, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that serum IFN-α had a high predictive value for FS onset, the cut-off point was 8.64pg/ml, and the sensitivity and specificity were 75.63% and 76.38%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the first course of disease group, relapse group and secondary epilepsy group. ConclusionSerum proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12p70, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IFN-α and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 are involved in the pathogenesis of FS. There was no correlation between the simplicity and complexity of serum cytokines. IL-2, IL-6, IL-12p70, IFN-γ, IFN-α were positively correlated with the duration of convulsion. When serum IFN-α>8.64 pg/ml, the possibility of FS attack increased.