Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39003674›Full record

ArticleMolecular diagnosis & therapy2024

Characterization of 13 Novel Genetic Variants in Genes Associated with Epilepsy: Implications for Targeted Therapeutic Strategies.

Marina Andjelkovic, Kristel Klaassen, Anita Skakic, Irena Marjanovic, Ruzica Kravljanac, Maja Djordjevic, Biljana Vucetic Tadic, Bozica Kecman, Sonja Pavlovic, Maja Stojiljkovic

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular diagnosis & therapy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Novel heterozygousFrontiers in neurology · 2025
    Article
  7. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Marina Andjelkovic *Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade, Serbia.
Kristel Klaassen *Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade, Serbia.
Anita SkakicInstitute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade, Serbia.
Irena MarjanovicInstitute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade, Serbia.
Ruzica KravljanacInstitute for Mother and Child Healthcare of Serbia, "Dr Vukan Cupic", Belgrade, Serbia.
Maja DjordjevicInstitute for Mother and Child Healthcare of Serbia, "Dr Vukan Cupic", Belgrade, Serbia.
Biljana Vucetic TadicInstitute for Mother and Child Healthcare of Serbia, "Dr Vukan Cupic", Belgrade, Serbia.
Bozica KecmanInstitute for Mother and Child Healthcare of Serbia, "Dr Vukan Cupic", Belgrade, Serbia.
Sonja PavlovicInstitute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade, Serbia.
Maja StojiljkovicInstitute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11042, Belgrade, Serbia. maja.stojiljkovic@imgge.bg.ac.rs.ORCID 0000-0003-0625-2009

Funding

Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja 451-03-47/2023-01/ 200042
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildhood epilepsies are caused by heterogeneous underlying disorders where approximately 40% of the origins of epilepsy can be attributed to genetic factors. The application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized molecular diagnostics and has enabled the identification of disease-causing genes and variants in childhood epilepsies. The objective of this study was to use NGS to identify variants in patients with childhood epilepsy, to expand the variant spectrum and discover potential therapeutic targets.

methodsIn our study, 55 children with epilepsy of unknown etiology were analyzed by combining clinical-exome and whole-exome sequencing. Novel variants were characterized using various in silico algorithms for pathogenicity and structure prediction.

resultsThe molecular genetic cause of epilepsy was identified in 28 patients and the overall diagnostic success rate was 50.9%. We identified variants in 22 different genes associated with epilepsy that correlate well with the described phenotype. SCN1A gene variants were found in five unrelated patients, while ALDH7A1 and KCNQ2 gene variants were found twice. In the other 19 genes, variants were found only in a single patient. This includes genes such as ASH1L, CSNK2B, RHOBTB2, and SLC13A5, which have only recently been associated with epilepsy. Almost half of diagnosed patients (46.4%) carried novel variants. Interestingly, we identified variants in ALDH7A1, KCNQ2, PNPO, SCN1A, and SCN2A resulting in gene-directed therapy decisions for 11 children from our study, including four children who all carried novel SCN1A genetic variants.

conclusionsDescribed novel variants will contribute to a better understanding of the European genetic landscape, while insights into the genotype-phenotype correlation will contribute to a better understanding of childhood epilepsies worldwide. Given the expansion of molecular-based approaches, each newly identified genetic variant could become a potential therapeutic target.

Indexed as

EpilepsyExome SequencingGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenetic VariationHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleGenetic Association StudiesHumansInfantMaleMolecular Targeted TherapyMutationNAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium ChannelNAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium ChannelSCN1A protein, human

Identifiers

PMID39003674
PMCPMC11349789

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.