Epileptic Encephalopathy of Unknown Cause in Turkey Indicates a New Homozygous <i>NAPB </i>Gene Variant

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> As with many genetic diseases, the diagnostic role of next-generation sequencing is invaluable for early-onset epileptic encephalopathies. SNARE proteins in synaptic vesicles (synaptobrevin-2) and synaptic plasma membrane (syntaxin-1, SNAP-25) are involved in synaptic exocytosis and recycling. <b><i>Patient Presentation:</i></b> Here, we report a patient that started in early childhood with seizures resistant to antiepileptic drugs, then developed epileptic encephalopathy. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> The <i>NAPB </i>gene encodes proteins in the SNARE complex. A previously unidentified homozygous missense variant in the <i>NAPB </i>gene may have contributed significantly to the etiology of our patient with epileptic encephalopathy. We also summarize the clinical, radiological, laboratory, and genetic findings of previously published patients with NAPB variants.