Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes
Abstract Objective Nigeria, along with other Sub‐Saharan African countries, bears the highest burden of epilepsy worldwide. This high prevalence is attributed to a combination of factors, including a significant incidence of infectious diseases, perinatal complications, and genetic etiologies. Genet...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Epilepsia Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13106 |
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| author | Ibitayo Abigail Ademuwagun Yagoub Adam Solomon Oladapo Rotimi Steffen Syrbe Maximilian Radtke Julia Hentschel Johannes R. Lemke Ezekiel Adebiyi |
| author_facet | Ibitayo Abigail Ademuwagun Yagoub Adam Solomon Oladapo Rotimi Steffen Syrbe Maximilian Radtke Julia Hentschel Johannes R. Lemke Ezekiel Adebiyi |
| author_sort | Ibitayo Abigail Ademuwagun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Nigeria, along with other Sub‐Saharan African countries, bears the highest burden of epilepsy worldwide. This high prevalence is attributed to a combination of factors, including a significant incidence of infectious diseases, perinatal complications, and genetic etiologies. Genetic testing is rarely available and is not typically included in the routine diagnostic work‐up for individuals with infantile and childhood epilepsy syndromes in these regions. Exome sequencing (ES) offers a diagnostic yield of 24%–62%, but these figures primarily reflect data from high‐income countries (HICs) and may not be applicable to low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). In this study, we employed ES to investigate the genetic basis of early‐onset epilepsy in 22 affected children from Nigeria. Methods The study involved sampling of patients diagnosed with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Neurology clinic. Venous blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was isolated and purified. Molecular analysis included DNA fragmentation, ligation, target enrichment, library preparation, and whole‐exome sequencing. Computational analysis involved variant calling, curation, and classification using specialized tools and databases. Results Pathogenic variants were identified in 6 out of 22 individuals, equaling a diagnostic yield of 27.3% and comprising variants in BPTF, NAA15, SCN1A, TUBA1A and twice in CACNA1A. Significance In this study, we present the first exome study on early‐onset epilepsy syndromes from West Africa, facilitated by a Nigerian‐German research collaboration. Our findings reveal a genetic diagnostic yield comparable to that of HICs. The integration of genomic medicine into epilepsy management in Nigeria holds promising prospects for improving patient care and reducing mortality rates. Plain Language Summary This study represents the first published exome findings in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy, revealing a genetic diagnosis in 27% of cases. Pathogenic variants were identified in five genes amongst 6 of 22 patients, underscoring the potential of genetic testing to enhance epilepsy management in developing nations like Nigeria. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-12f87c0086914c4ca48aefa29a4b7042 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2470-9239 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epilepsia Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-12f87c0086914c4ca48aefa29a4b70422025-02-07T09:12:45ZengWileyEpilepsia Open2470-92392025-02-0110122223210.1002/epi4.13106Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromesIbitayo Abigail Ademuwagun0Yagoub Adam1Solomon Oladapo Rotimi2Steffen Syrbe3Maximilian Radtke4Julia Hentschel5Johannes R. Lemke6Ezekiel Adebiyi7Covenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe) Covenant University Ota Ogun State NigeriaCovenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe) Covenant University Ota Ogun State NigeriaCovenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe) Covenant University Ota Ogun State NigeriaHeidelberg University Medical Faculty of Heidelberg, Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Department 1, Division of Pediatric Epileptology Heidelberg GermanyInstitute of Human Genetics University of Leipzig Medical Center Leipzig GermanyInstitute of Human Genetics University of Leipzig Medical Center Leipzig GermanyInstitute of Human Genetics University of Leipzig Medical Center Leipzig GermanyCovenant University Bioinformatics Research (CUBRe) Covenant University Ota Ogun State NigeriaAbstract Objective Nigeria, along with other Sub‐Saharan African countries, bears the highest burden of epilepsy worldwide. This high prevalence is attributed to a combination of factors, including a significant incidence of infectious diseases, perinatal complications, and genetic etiologies. Genetic testing is rarely available and is not typically included in the routine diagnostic work‐up for individuals with infantile and childhood epilepsy syndromes in these regions. Exome sequencing (ES) offers a diagnostic yield of 24%–62%, but these figures primarily reflect data from high‐income countries (HICs) and may not be applicable to low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). In this study, we employed ES to investigate the genetic basis of early‐onset epilepsy in 22 affected children from Nigeria. Methods The study involved sampling of patients diagnosed with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Neurology clinic. Venous blood samples were collected, and genomic DNA was isolated and purified. Molecular analysis included DNA fragmentation, ligation, target enrichment, library preparation, and whole‐exome sequencing. Computational analysis involved variant calling, curation, and classification using specialized tools and databases. Results Pathogenic variants were identified in 6 out of 22 individuals, equaling a diagnostic yield of 27.3% and comprising variants in BPTF, NAA15, SCN1A, TUBA1A and twice in CACNA1A. Significance In this study, we present the first exome study on early‐onset epilepsy syndromes from West Africa, facilitated by a Nigerian‐German research collaboration. Our findings reveal a genetic diagnostic yield comparable to that of HICs. The integration of genomic medicine into epilepsy management in Nigeria holds promising prospects for improving patient care and reducing mortality rates. Plain Language Summary This study represents the first published exome findings in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy, revealing a genetic diagnosis in 27% of cases. Pathogenic variants were identified in five genes amongst 6 of 22 patients, underscoring the potential of genetic testing to enhance epilepsy management in developing nations like Nigeria.https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13106developmental and epileptic encephalopathiesgenetic variantsNigeriapersonalized medicinewhole‐exome studies |
| spellingShingle | Ibitayo Abigail Ademuwagun Yagoub Adam Solomon Oladapo Rotimi Steffen Syrbe Maximilian Radtke Julia Hentschel Johannes R. Lemke Ezekiel Adebiyi Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes Epilepsia Open developmental and epileptic encephalopathies genetic variants Nigeria personalized medicine whole‐exome studies |
| title | Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes |
| title_full | Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes |
| title_fullStr | Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes |
| title_short | Exome sequencing in Nigerian children with early‐onset epilepsy syndromes |
| title_sort | exome sequencing in nigerian children with early onset epilepsy syndromes |
| topic | developmental and epileptic encephalopathies genetic variants Nigeria personalized medicine whole‐exome studies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.13106 |
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