Charissa Millevert, Megan Hairabedian, Samuel Dahan, Johannes Lemke, Steffen Syrbe, Eugenia Roza, Raluca Ioana Teleanu, Laura Licchetta, Duccio M Cordelli, Francesca Bisulli, Trine B Hammer, Magdalena Krygier, Marta Pietruszka, Maria Mazurkiewicz-Bełdzińska, Safa Mete Dagdas, Pinar Gencpinar, Carmen Fons, Dídac Casas-Alba, Edward C Cooper, Maurizio Taglialatela, Béatrice Desnous, Nathalie Villeneuve, Anne Lépine, Stéphane Auvin, Cyril Mignot, Dorothée Ville, Anne de Saint Martin, Claire Bar, Caroline Hachon le Camus, Laurent Villard, Laurence Chaton, Patrick Van Bogaert, Jérémie Lefranc, Gaëtan Lesca, Silvia Napuri, Mathieu Kuchenbuch, Caroline Perriard, Blandine Dozieres, Bénédicte Héron, Annie Ting-Gee Chiu, Ingrid E Scheffer, KCNQ2 study group, Mathieu Milh, Sarah Weckhuysen
Pathogenic KCNQ2 variants are the most common genetic cause of neonatal-onset epilepsies, with phenotypes ranging from self-limited (familial) neonatal epilepsy (SeL(F)NE) to severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (KCNQ2-DEE). Sodium channel blockers (SCBs) have shown promise for seizure control in these disorders, but their impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes and possible relationship with timing of initiation remain incompletely understood. We leveraged a large, multicentre international cohort comprising 282 individuals with pathogenic KCNQ2 variants to retrospectively assess the effectiveness of antiseizure medications (ASMs), particularly SCBs, on seizure control and neurodevelopment. Individuals were grouped according to the predicted variant-specific functional effects: loss-of-function (LOF) variants known to be associated with SeL(F)NE or DEE respectively, and gain-of-function (GOF) variants. Epilepsy course, ASM effectiveness, and neurodevelopmental milestones were systematically collected and analysed, including time-to-event and adjusted outcome analyses. SCBs, especially carbamazepine (CBZ) and oxcarbazepine (OXC), emerged as the most effective ASMs in both LOF groups. In LOF KCNQ2-DEE, time-to-event analyses showed that early SCB initiation (≤1 month) was associated with earlier seizure offset. Early SCB initiation was also associated with significantly more favourable neurodevelopmental outcomes, including higher rates of attaining major motor milestones. This association remained significant after adjustment for seizure control by 1 month and total ASM burden. Considerable phenotypic variability persisted, with some individuals experiencing severe impairment despite early seizure control and SCB initiation, suggesting that variant severity and additional genetic or biological modifiers contribute to outcome heterogeneity.Our results support the use of SCBs, particularly CBZ and OXC, as first-line therapy in (LOF) KCNQ2-DEE and SeL(F)NE. Earlier SCB initiation was associated with earlier seizure offset and more favourable developmental outcomes, underscoring the importance of early genetic diagnosis and timely SCB therapy. We however emphasise that early treatment is not universally transformative and further prospective work, including exploration of targeted therapies and standardised neurodevelopmental assessments, is needed to optimise long-term outcomes in this heterogeneous population.