Background: Some patients with ATP1A3 variant-associated polymicrogyria have recurrent transient heart failure. However, effective treatment for the transient cardiac condition remains to be elucidated.
Case report: The patient started experiencing focal motor onset seizures in 12 h after birth, revealing bilateral diffuse polymicrogyria. The patient also experienced transient bradycardia (sinus bradycardia) attacks from 15 days old. Echocardiography revealed a reduced ejection fraction; however, no obvious electrocorticogram or electroencephalogram abnormalities were observed during the attacks. Initially, the attacks occurred in clusters daily. They later decreased in frequency, occurring at monthly intervals. Repeated episodes of transient bradycardia attacks and polymicrogyria indicated possible ATP1A3 gene abnormality and genetic testing revealed a novel heterozygous ATP1A3 variant (NM_152296: exon22:c.2977_2982del:p.(Glu993_Ile994del)), which was not found in the patient's parents. Cilostazol was administered at 3 months old for recurrent transient bradycardia attacks. Cilostazol significantly shortened the duration of bradycardia episodes and prolonged the interval between attacks. Cilostazol also effectively treats transient symptomatic bradycardia.
Conclusion: Cilostazol could be a treatment option for recurrent transient bradycardia attacks associated with ATP1A3 gene abnormalities and polymicrogyria.
Keywords: ATP1A3; Bradycardia; Cilostazol; Drug therapy; Heart failure; Neuronal migration disorder; Polymicrogyria.
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