Epileptic and electroencephalographic manifestations of guanidinoacetate-methyltransferase deficiency.

Journal Article (Journal Article;Review)

AIM: Describe the seizure-related manifestations of guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency in two new cases and compare these to the related literature. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and electroencephalographic manifestations of two siblings with GAMT deficiency. We also performed a thorough literature review of all cases of GAMT deficiency, using the PubMed database, and compared our findings to those previously reported. RESULTS: One sibling presented with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome while the second had manifestations of late-onset West syndrome. Based on a literature search, we found that the clinical picture of GAMT deficiency has been described in a total of 58 cases, including our two patients, 45 of whom had at least some description of EEG and/or seizure manifestation. Epilepsy was present in 81%, with age at onset usually between 10 months and 3 years. Drug resistance was observed in approximately 45%. Initial seizures were febrile, tonic, or tonic-clonic. Drop attacks and generalised seizures were the most frequent seizure type. Absence and febrile seizures also occurred. Less frequently, focal seizures and late-onset infantile spasms (one prior case) were observed. Multifocal spikes and generalised <3-Hz-spike slow waves were common while only one prior single case report of hypsarrhythmia was described. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was common, while progressive myoclonic epilepsy was also, less frequently, reported. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the second report of the occurrence of West syndrome in GAMT deficiency. The majority of patients with GAMT deficiency have seizures and approximately half are drug-resistant. Late-onset of hypsarrhythmia and/or epileptic spasms could potentially prove to be a distinctive, albeit infrequent, feature of this treatable metabolic disorder.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Mikati, AG; Abu Gheida, I; Shamseddine, A; Mikati, MA; Karam, PE

Published Date

  • December 2013

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 15 / 4

Start / End Page

  • 407 - 416

PubMed ID

  • 24165373

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1294-9361

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1684/epd.2013.0609

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States