Miss Mira: Neurology Appointment Tomorrow

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Neurology Appointment Tomorrow

We are gearing up for another neurology appointment tomorrow around noon at CMH. I usually email our neurologist prior to our appointment, just to get him thinking about what we want to discuss.

I have been trying to get Mira's results from a Biotinidase Deficiency (BD) screen she had in May of 2006 and to get our neurologist's thoughts on Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) which is a genetic defect that causes the body to not properly process folic acid. I am bringing up the results from her past BD screen to make sure that the proper test was performed and to discuss the results with a metabolic geneticist I have been corresponding with in Detroit. At the time of the test, Mira was on multiple medications and we were in the process of switching neurologists. Both deficiencies are sort of long-shots in terms of Mira's condition, but fairly easy to detect and diagnose through screening. Missouri happens to be one of the few states that doesn't perform newborn screening for BD. MTHFR is detected through genetic testing. Some of her past labs might some insight into potential folic acid issues.

We are planning on also discussing medications and give neurology an update on how the diet is going. Mira did have some decent days (her 1 seizure-free day) and a couple days where we have only seen one seizure per day. Better than a few weeks ago!

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Mira's Brief Story

Mira was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms (I.S.) in September 2005. Since her diagnosis is part of larger picture of issues, including developmental delay, and hypsarrhythmia, Mira was originally diagnosed with West Syndrome.

Hypsarrhythmia represents a completely chaotic and disorganized EEG background pattern consisting of high amplitude slow waves and spikes that are asynchronous, non-rhythmic, and variable in duration. The common combination of seizures/spasms, developmental delay, and hypsarrhythmia constitutes the form of infantile epilepsy, West syndrome.

Since Mira has what is described as a catastrophic epilepsy and has multiple seizure types, she has also been diagnosed with Atypical Dravet Syndrome (SMEI), Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS), and at even Atypical Rett Syndrome. While a host of early genetic testing failed to find a typical mutation, deletion, or mosaicism in the typical genetic markers for these syndromes, it does not rule out other possible associated genetic markers that have yet to be discovered. Mira has also been tested for a series of other random genetic syndromes, through partial genome sequencing and a few individual microarrays.

In 2015, a heterozygous mutation of TPP1 was found through a genetic epilepsy panel. We do not have a definitive answer as to whether this mutation (associated with NCL - Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis) is relevant to Mira's diagnosis.

Mira has tried nearly every anti-seizure medication, finding brief 'success' with Lyrica, her 14th medication. Mira was seizure free* for about 6 months in late 2007 and into early 2008.

*(Her EEG never improved during this period, which means that she was still clinically having seizures and that the Lyrica was simply masking the symptoms. Visible seizures slowly surfaced after about 5 1/2 months of being on Lyrica.)

She received weekly OT/PT, vision, feeding, aqua, and group therapy up until 2011. She now receives PT/OT and other therapies through the school district. Mira also did hippotherapy for the summer in 2008 as well.

For Mira's longer story, please visit the January 2007 Archive. For an explanation on this blog, visit the January 2, 2017 post.

Medications Tried - in Chronological Order