Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Clinical Spectrum and Epilepsy: A Retrospective Chart Review Study

Abstract

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic neurocutaneous disorder, with heterogeneous manifestations. We aimed to review the clinical presentation of TSC and its association with epilepsy among Saudi population. This was a retrospective chart review study of 88 patients diagnosed with TSC with or without epilepsy. In 38.6% of patients, symptoms began before 1 year of age. The most frequent initial manifestations of TSC were new onset of seizures (68.2%), skin manifestations (46.6%) and development delay (23.9%). During the evolution of the disease 65.9% had epilepsy, 17% facial angiofibromas, 13.6% Shagreen patch, 18.2% heart rhabdomyomas and 12.5% retinal hamartomas. The genetic study for TSC diagnosis was done for 44 patients, 42 (95,4%) of them were genetically confirmed, for whom 13 patients had TSC1 mutation (29.5%), 29 patients were carrying TSC2 gene mutation (65.9%), Genetic test for TSC 1 and TSC 2 were negative for 2 patients (4.5%) despite positive gene mutation in their relative with TSC. The most common manifestations were central nervous system (predominantly epilepsy) and dermatological manifestations. Most of the patients develop epilepsy with multiple seizure types. TSC 2 mutation is more common than TSC 1 mutation.

Keywords: TSC1; TSC2; Tuberous Sclerosis Complex; epilepsy; manifestations.

Fig. 1

Time of first presentation of symptoms