Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41795712›Full record

ArticleEpilepsia2026

Genetic testing for familial epilepsies: Diagnostic yield and genetic findings.

Colin A Ellis, Juliette Copeland, Isabella Velez, Karen L Oliver, Hannah Shalaby, Aaron Baldwin, Caren Armstrong, Amanda Back, Brianna Berlin, Stacey Cohen and 18 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Epilepsia, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

28 authors.

Colin A EllisDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2152-8106
Juliette CopelandDrexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3128-0782
Isabella VelezDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8128-988X
Karen L OliverEpilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5188-6153
Hannah ShalabyDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Aaron BaldwinDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8970-1270
Caren ArmstrongEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8010-0850
Amanda BackEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7913-990X
Brianna BerlinEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Stacey CohenEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Vishnu Anand CuddapahEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4606-673X
Danielle deCampoEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5034-4675
Holly DubbsEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1370-6195
Natalie GinnEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Alicia G HarrisonEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Naomi LewinEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Laina LuskEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9799-9890
Eric D MarshDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-0902
Shavonne L MasseyDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8496-221X
Pamela Pojomovsky McDonnellDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3474-6428
Jillian L McKeeDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9724-0403
Xilma Ortiz-GonzalezDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1710-4696
Anna J PrenticeEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7459-1778
Katie Rose SullivanEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1162-337X
Sarah M RuggieroEpilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0834-0750
Mark P FitzgeraldDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7121-0705
Ethan M GoldbergDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7404-735X
Ingo HelbigDepartment of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8486-0558

Funding

Interneuron axonopathy underlies circuit dysfunction in a mouse model of Dravet syndromeR01NS110869 · NINDS · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI ETHAN M GOLDBERG · 2019 to 2026
$3.5M
A computational phenotyping approach to characterize neurogenetic disordersR01NS131512 · NINDS · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI Ingo Helbig · 2023 to 2026
$2.8M
Subgroup delineation in genetic epilepsies and developmental brain disordersR01NS127830 · NINDS · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI Ingo Helbig · 2023 to 2026
$2.8M
ClinGen Expert Curation Panel for the EpilepsiesU24NS120854 · NINDS · ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL · PI Ingo Helbig, HEATHER C. MEFFORD · 2021 to 2026
$2.0M
Polygenic risk in familial epilepsyK23NS121520 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI ELLIS, COLIN · 2021 to 2025
$1.1M
Outcome measures and quantitative EEG biomarkers in SYNGAP1-related disordersK23NS140491 · NINDS · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI Jillian Lee McKee · 2025 to 2026
$439k
NINDS NIH HHS K23NS121520NINDS NIH HHS K23NS140491NINDS NIH HHS R01NS110869NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS127830NINDS NIH HHS R01NS127830NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS131512NINDS NIH HHS R01NS131512NINDS NIH HHS U24NS120854
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveGenetic testing has become a routine part of clinical epilepsy care. Family history is an indication for genetic testing, but the diagnostic yield, predictors of a genetic diagnosis, and association with familial patterns are not well understood.

methodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of genetic testing performed at pediatric and adult epilepsy genetics clinics. Eligible patients (probands) had epilepsy and one or more first-degree relatives or two or more other relatives with epilepsy. Genetic testing strategies were patient specific, reflecting real-world clinical practice. Familial patterns were classified based on affected relatives of the proband. Diagnostic variants were tested in the proband's parents when possible.

resultsWe studied 484 probands and their families. A genetic diagnosis was identified in 99 of 484 (20%). Predictors of a genetic diagnosis were presence of neurodevelopmental disorder (X SIGNIFICANCE: Familial epilepsy has a substantial rate of genetic diagnosis and is an appropriate indication for genetic testing. Pedigree-related factors did not influence the likelihood of genetic diagnosis, suggesting that all families can be considered for genetic testing, independent of inheritance patterns and number of affected relatives. Familial patterns can help interpret genetic test results, while also revealing the complexities of incomplete penetrance and independent epilepsy etiologies in families.

Indexed as

EpilepsyGenetic TestingAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansInfantMaleMiddle AgedPedigreeRetrospective StudiesYoung Adultexome sequencingfamilial epilepsyfamily historygene panelgenetic testing

Identifiers

PMID41795712
PMCPMC13285230

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