Shared Loci for Migraine and Epilepsy on Chromosomes 14q12-q23 and 12q24.2-q24.3

Abstract

We read with interest the recent article by Polvi et al.,1 who described shared loci on chromosomes 14q and 12q for migraine and epilepsy in a large Finnish family. Ten of the 60 family members had clinical events that were unclassified by the authors and characterized by “sudden somnolence leading to transient unconsciousness and inability to be awoken” (SUA). Individuals with SUA also had onset of epilepsy from 1 to 5 years old, EEG foci in the centrotemporal and other localizations often changing with age, and cessation of symptoms in later childhood. This constellation of findings suggests a common benign childhood epilepsy called Panayiotopoulos syndrome (PS), as recognized in the International League Against Epilepsy classification system.2 PS is marked by a susceptibility to syncope-like autonomic seizures (the child becomes unresponsive and flaccid) which are strikingly similar to the SUA.3 The epileptiform EEG discharges in PS are often multifocal and increase in frequency during sleep. Although occipital localization is most common, the epileptiform activity may be seen in any region and often shifts with age. If the authors would elaborate on the clinical and …