[Progressive myoclonic epilepsy secondary to Lafora's body disease]

Medicina (B Aires). 2018;78(6):436-439.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Lafora's disease is infrequent. However, it is one of the most common causes of progressive myoclonus epilepsy. We present the case of a 19-year-old woman, without comorbidities and normal development that started at 8 years with seizures and that from 15 years, had progressive cognitive deterioration. She was admitted to our institution with a diagnosis of super refractory status epilepticus. The diagnosis of Lafora's disease was made through pathological anatomy, later a genetic test was performed that reported a pathogenic variant of the EPM2A gene, confirming the diagnosis. We present a cause of progressive myoclonic epilepsy, with an ominous prognosis and a treatment oriented to palliative measures, so it is important to analyze the differential diagnoses with other entities, in order to establish a prognosis, offer better quality of life, adequate medical care and provide genetic counseling to family members.

Keywords: Lafora's disease; progressive myoclonic epilepsy; status epilepticus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lafora Disease / complications*
  • Lafora Disease / genetics
  • Lafora Disease / pathology
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive / etiology*
  • Myoclonic Epilepsies, Progressive / genetics
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Non-Receptor
  • EPM2A protein, human