Myoclonic epilepsy with photosensitivity in infants with Pallister-Killian Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Pallister-Killian Syndrome (PKS) (OMIM #601803) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a mosaic tetrasomy of the short arm of chromosome 12. Epilepsy is a frequent concern in PKS patients.

Methods: we report 3 PKS patients, with early-onset myoclonic epilepsy and photosensitivity. In these children, we analysed epileptic history and the EEG phenotype.

Results: Epilepsy onset was in the first 2 years of life in all patients and in 2 of them myoclonic seizures were the only seizure type. In all children photosensitivity was observed and myoclonic seizures were mainly related to low-frequency (1-6 Hz) intermittent photic stimulation. Levetiracetam was effective and well tolerated in the 2 treated patients.

Conclusions: early-onset myoclonic epilepsy is a possible clinical manifestation of PKS. Low-frequency photosensitivity is a peculiar bioelectrical marker in these children.

Keywords: Low frequency photic stimulation; Myoclonic epilepsy; Pallister-Killian Syndrome; Photosensitivity.