Carbamazepine efficacy in a severe electro-clinical presentation of SLC13A5-epilepsy

Abstract

Recessive mutations in the SLC13A5 gene encoding the sodium-dependent citrate transporter are a recently identified cause of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Here, we describe a child harboring a novel homozygous loss-of-function mutation in the SLC13A5 gene (c.1496C>T–p.Ser499Phe) and exhibiting an unusual extremely severe neonatal presentation with drug-resistant seizures and burst-suppression EEG pattern. Early carbamazepine use resulted in dramatic improvement both clinically and on EEG features. Follow-up from the neonatal period to the age of 4 years is documented. This case expands the electro-clinical phenotype associated with SLC13A5-related disease and confirms the efficacy and safety of carbamazepine in nonstructural early-onset epilepsies.