Angelman syndrome and pseudo-hypsarrhythmia: a diagnostic pitfall

Epileptic Disord. 2011 Sep;13(3):331-5. doi: 10.1684/epd.2011.0446.

Abstract

Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder scarcely diagnosed before the age of two years. We report the case of an eight-month-old female presenting with severe hypotonia, myoclonus, suspected spasms and an electroencephalogram with hypsarrhythmic-like features. She was initially treated with vigabatrin which resulted in worsening of myoclonic jerks. Fluorometric in situ hybridization revealed a chromosomal deletion at region 15q11-13. We discuss the case and differential diagnosis with other conditions including West syndrome. [Published with video sequences].

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Angelman Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Angelman Syndrome / genetics
  • Angelman Syndrome / pathology
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / genetics
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Infant
  • Muscle Hypotonia / complications
  • Spasms, Infantile / complications
  • Spasms, Infantile / diagnosis*
  • Spasms, Infantile / genetics
  • Spasms, Infantile / pathology
  • Vigabatrin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Vigabatrin