Novel NALCN variant linked to temporal lobe epilepsy

Am J Med Genet A. 2023 Jul;191(7):1942-1947. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63209. Epub 2023 Apr 12.

Abstract

The sodium leak channel (NALCN) gene encodes a sodium leak channel that plays an important role in the regulation of the resting membrane potential and the control of neuronal excitability. Mutations in the NALCN gene have been reported in patients with infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation and characteristic facies (IHPRF) and congenital contractures of the limbs and face with hypotonia and developmental delay (CLIFAHDD syndrome). We describe the case of a father with drug-resistant left temporo-orbitofrontal epilepsy and his son with mildly-symptomatic temporal epilepsy (only recurrent déjà vu auras) whose genetic panels identified a likely pathogenic deletion of exon 27 on the NALCN gene. Our study helps broaden the clinical spectrum of diseases associated with mutations in the NALCN gene.

Keywords: NALCN; drug-resistant; focal epilepsy; genetic; sodium channel; temporal epilepsy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Epilepsy* / genetics
  • Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Ion Channels
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Muscle Hypotonia / genetics
  • Sodium
  • Sodium Channels / genetics

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Sodium Channels
  • Sodium
  • NALCN protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins