Gene associated with seizures, autism, and hepatomegaly in an Amish girl

Pediatr Neurol. 2009 Apr;40(4):310-3. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2008.10.013.

Abstract

A genetic defect causing autism and epilepsy involving the contactin associated protein-like 2 gene (CNTNAP2) has been discovered in a selected cohort of Amish children. These children were found to have focal seizures and autistic regression. Surgical biopsy of the anterior temporal lobe of two such children revealed cortical dysplasia and a single nucleotide polymorphism mutation of this gene. The present case is that of a related but geographically distant proband with a similar phenotype but a single-base-pair deletion in the CNTNAP2 gene. This patient exhibited the additional features of periventricular leukomalacia and hepatomegaly.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autistic Disorder / complications
  • Autistic Disorder / genetics*
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / complications
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / genetics*
  • Female
  • Hepatomegaly / complications
  • Hepatomegaly / genetics*
  • Hepatomegaly / pathology
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mutation / physiology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Pedigree
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Splenomegaly / genetics
  • Splenomegaly / pathology

Substances

  • CNTNAP2 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins