A case report of a family with overlapping features of autosomal dominant febrile seizures and GEFS+

Abstract

Summary Familial febrile seizures occur in both generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) and autosomal dominant febrile seizures (ADFS). The literature largely separates families with GEFS+ from those with ADFS. However, there is clinical overlap, and families with ADFS also include individuals with afebrile seizures. The phenotypic spectrum of GEFS+ is broader now than when first described, resulting in unclear boundaries between these two familial syndromes. The purpose of this report is to highlight the phenotypic similarities of GEFS+ and ADFS. A multigenerational family with febrile and afebrile seizures is described and the clinical features are compared to those of previously reported GEFS+ and ADFS families. This family meets the requirements for both ADFS and the broader definition of GEFS+. Linkage analysis has shown no clear linkage to known febrile seizure or GEFS+ loci. Despite locus heterogeneity, identified mutations in reported GEFS+ have so far all been in sodium channel or γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-receptor genes, with other modifier genes postulated to affect individual phenotypes. The two mutations identified in families with ADFS are in genes implicated in GEFS+, SCN1A, and GABRG2. We conclude that it is inappropriate to separate GEFS+ and ADFS at present given the clinical and genotypic overlap. © 2008 International League Against Epilepsy.