Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 17

GNAO1-related disorder encompasses a broad phenotypic continuum that includes hyperkinetic movement disorders and/or epilepsy and is typically associated with developmental delay and intellectual disability. Viewed by age of onset, three clusters in this continuum can be observed: (1) infantile-onset developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) with or without prominent movement disorder; (2) infantile- or early childhood-onset prominent movement disorder and neurodevelopmental disorder with or without childhood-onset epilepsy with varying seizure types; (3) later childhood- or adult-onset movement disorder with variable developmental delay and intellectual disability. Epilepsy can be either DEE (onset typically within the first year of life of drug-resistant epilepsy in which developmental delays are attributed to the underlying diagnosis as well as the impact of uncontrolled seizures) or varying seizure types (onset typically between ages three and ten years of focal or generalized tonic-clonic seizures that may be infrequent or well controlled with anti-seizure medications). Movement disorders are characterized by dystonia and choreoathetosis, most commonly a mixed pattern of persistent or paroxysmal dyskinesia that affects the whole body. Exacerbations of the hyperkinetic movement disorder, which can be spontaneous or triggered (e.g., by intercurrent illness, emotional stress, voluntary movements), can last minutes to weeks. Hyperkinetic crises (including status dystonicus) are characterized by temporarily increased and nearly continuous involuntary movements or dystonic posturing that can be life-threatening. Deaths in early childhood have been reported due to medically refractory epilepsy or hyperkinetic crises, but the phenotypic spectrum includes milder presentations, including in adults. As many adults with disabilities have not undergone advanced genetic testing, it is likely that adults with GNAO1-related disorder are underrecognized and underreported.

Full text of GeneReview (by section):

Summary

GeneReview Scope

Diagnosis

Clinical Characteristics

Genetically Related (Allelic) Disorders

Differential Diagnosis

Management

Genetic Counseling

Resources

Molecular Genetics

Chapter Notes

References

Authors:

Lauren Briere

Moritz Thiel

David A Sweetser

view full author information