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Identification of novel and de novo variant in the SCN1A gene confirms Dravet syndrome in Moroccan child: a case report

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Abstract

Dravet syndrome is a severe form of epilepsy characterised by recurrent seizures and cognitive impairment. It is mainly caused by variant in the SCN1A gene in 90% of cases, which codes for the α subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel. In this study, we present one suspected case of Dravet syndrome in Moroccan child that underwent exome analysis and were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The variant was identified in the SCN1A gene, and is a new variant that has never been described in the literature. The variant was found de nova in our case, indicating that it was not inherited from the parents. The variant, SCN1A c.965-2A>G p.(?), is located at the splice site and results in an unknown modification of the protein. This variant is considered pathogenic on the basis of previous studies. These results contribute to our knowledge of the SCN1A gene mutations associated with Dravet syndrome and underline the importance of genetic analysis in the diagnosis and confirmation of this disorder. Further studies are needed to better understand the functional consequences of this variant and its implications for therapeutic strategies in Dravet syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Manuscript drafting by HE MJ and MA. Article revision by LB. Patient’s clinical assessment conducted by SC and AN. Exome sequencing analysis by NA, JL, and SCE. Sanger sequencing performed by HE and MA. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Hinde El Mouhi.

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The study was conducted following the guidelines and regulations outlined by the relevant ethics committees and institutional review boards. Informed consent was obtained from all participants or their legal guardians prior to sample collection and sequencing.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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El Mouhi, H., Amllal, N., Abbassi, M. et al. Identification of novel and de novo variant in the SCN1A gene confirms Dravet syndrome in Moroccan child: a case report. Mol Biol Rep 51, 233 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-09200-y

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