U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 2(DEE2)

MedGen UID:
1663579
Concept ID:
C4750718
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: DEE2; Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 2; INFANTILE SPASM SYNDROME, X-LINKED 2
SNOMED CT: CDKL5 (cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5) deficiency (773230003); CDKL5 deficiency disorder (773230003); Cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 deficiency (773230003); CDKL5-related epileptic encephalopathy (773230003)
Modes of inheritance:
X-linked dominant inheritance
MedGen UID:
376232
Concept ID:
C1847879
Finding
Source: Orphanet
A mode of inheritance that is observed for dominant traits related to a gene encoded on the X chromosome. In the context of medical genetics, X-linked dominant disorders tend to manifest very severely in affected males. The severity of manifestation in females may depend on the degree of skewed X inactivation.
 
Gene (location): CDKL5 (Xp22.13)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0010396
OMIM®: 300672
Orphanet: ORPHA505652

Definition

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy-2 (DEE2) is an X-linked dominant severe neurologic disorder characterized by onset of seizures in the first months of life and severe global developmental delay resulting in impaired intellectual development and poor motor control. Other features include lack of speech development, subtle dysmorphic facial features, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, and stereotypic hand movements. There is some phenotypic overlap with Rett syndrome (312750), but DEE2 is considered to be a distinct entity (summary by Fehr et al., 2013). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of DEE, see 308350. [from OMIM]

Additional description

From MedlinePlus Genetics
CDKL5 deficiency disorder is characterized by seizures that begin in infancy, followed by significant delays in many aspects of development.

Seizures in CDKL5 deficiency disorder usually begin within the first 3 months of life, and can appear as early as the first week after birth. The types of seizures change with age, and may follow a predictable pattern. The most common types are generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which involve a loss of consciousness, muscle rigidity, and convulsions; tonic seizures, which are characterized by abnormal muscle contractions; and epileptic spasms, which involve short episodes of muscle jerks. Seizures occur daily in most people with CDKL5 deficiency disorder, although they can have periods when they are seizure-free. Seizures in CDKL5 deficiency disorder usually do not get better with treatment.

Development is impaired in children with CDKL5 deficiency disorder. Most have severe intellectual disability and little or no speech. The development of gross motor skills, such as sitting, standing, and walking, is delayed or not achieved. About one-third of affected individuals are able to walk independently. Fine motor skills, such as picking up small objects with the fingers, are also impaired; about half of affected individuals have purposeful use of their hands. Most people with this condition have vision problems (cortical visual impairment).

Other common features of CDKL5 deficiency disorder include repetitive hand movements (stereotypies), such as clapping, hand licking, and hand sucking; teeth grinding (bruxism); disrupted sleep; feeding difficulties; and gastrointestinal problems including constipation and backflow of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux). Some affected individuals have episodes of irregular breathing. Distinctive facial features in some people with CDKL5 deficiency disorder include a high and broad forehead, large and deep-set eyes, a well-defined space between the nose and upper lip (philtrum), full lips, widely spaced teeth, and a high roof of the mouth (palate). Other physical differences can also occur, such as an unusually small head size (microcephaly), side-to-side curvature of the spine (scoliosis), and tapered fingers.

CDKL5 deficiency disorder was previously classified as an atypical form of Rett syndrome. These conditions have common features, including seizures, intellectual disability, and other problems with development. However, the signs and symptoms associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder and its genetic cause are distinct from those of Rett syndrome, and CDKL5 deficiency disorder is now considered a separate condition.  https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/cdkl5-deficiency-disorder

Clinical features

From HPO
Tapered finger
MedGen UID:
98098
Concept ID:
C0426886
Finding
The gradual reduction in girth of the finger from proximal to distal.
Small hand
MedGen UID:
108279
Concept ID:
C0575802
Finding
Disproportionately small hand.
Short foot
MedGen UID:
376415
Concept ID:
C1848673
Finding
A measured foot length that is more than 2 SD below the mean for a newborn of 27 - 41 weeks gestation, or foot that is less than the 3rd centile for individuals from birth to 16 years of age (objective). Alternatively, a foot that appears disproportionately short (subjective).
Constipation
MedGen UID:
1101
Concept ID:
C0009806
Sign or Symptom
Infrequent or difficult evacuation of feces.
Gastroesophageal reflux
MedGen UID:
1368658
Concept ID:
C4317146
Finding
A condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus through the lower esophageal sphincter.
Myoclonus
MedGen UID:
10234
Concept ID:
C0027066
Finding
Very brief, involuntary random muscular contractions occurring at rest, in response to sensory stimuli, or accompanying voluntary movements.
Seizure
MedGen UID:
20693
Concept ID:
C0036572
Sign or Symptom
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain.
Motor stereotypies
MedGen UID:
21318
Concept ID:
C0038271
Individual Behavior
Use of the same abnormal action in response to certain triggers or at random. They may be used as a way to regulate one's internal state but must otherwise have no apparent functional purpose.
Generalized-onset seizure
MedGen UID:
115963
Concept ID:
C0234533
Disease or Syndrome
A generalized-onset seizure is a type of seizure originating at some point within, and rapidly engaging, bilaterally distributed networks. The networks may include cortical and subcortical structures but not necessarily the entire cortex.
Epileptic encephalopathy
MedGen UID:
452596
Concept ID:
C0543888
Disease or Syndrome
A condition in which epileptiform abnormalities are believed to contribute to the progressive disturbance in cerebral function. Epileptic encephalaopathy is characterized by (1) electrographic EEG paroxysmal activity that is often aggressive, (2) seizures that are usually multiform and intractable, (3) cognitive, behavioral and neurological deficits that may be relentless, and (4) sometimes early death.
Global developmental delay
MedGen UID:
107838
Concept ID:
C0557874
Finding
A delay in the achievement of motor or mental milestones in the domains of development of a child, including motor skills, speech and language, cognitive skills, and social and emotional skills. This term should only be used to describe children younger than five years of age.
Inability to walk
MedGen UID:
107860
Concept ID:
C0560046
Finding
Incapability to ambulate.
Hypsarrhythmia
MedGen UID:
195766
Concept ID:
C0684276
Finding
Hypsarrhythmia is abnormal interictal high amplitude waves and a background of irregular spikes. There is continuous (during wakefulness), high-amplitude (>200 Hz), generalized polymorphic slowing with no organized background and multifocal spikes demonstrated by electroencephalography (EEG).
Reduced eye contact
MedGen UID:
303190
Concept ID:
C1445953
Finding
A reduced frequency or duration of eye contact.
Developmental regression
MedGen UID:
324613
Concept ID:
C1836830
Disease or Syndrome
Loss of developmental skills, as manifested by loss of developmental milestones.
Intellectual disability, profound
MedGen UID:
892508
Concept ID:
C3161330
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Profound mental retardation is defined as an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 20.
Multifocal seizures
MedGen UID:
482664
Concept ID:
C3281034
Finding
Seizures that start from several different areas of the brain (i.e., with multiple ictal onset locations).
Infantile spasms
MedGen UID:
854616
Concept ID:
C3887898
Disease or Syndrome
Infantile spasms represent a subset of "epileptic spasms". Infantile Spasms are epileptic spasms starting in the first year of life (infancy).
EEG with generalized slow activity
MedGen UID:
866862
Concept ID:
C4021217
Finding
Diffuse slowing of cerebral electrical activity recorded along the scalp by electroencephalography (EEG).
Generalized myoclonic seizure
MedGen UID:
892704
Concept ID:
C4021759
Disease or Syndrome
A generalized myoclonic seizure is a type of generalized motor seizure characterized by bilateral, sudden, brief (<100 ms) involuntary single or multiple contraction of muscles or muscle groups of variable topography (axial, proximal limb, distal). Myoclonus is less regularly repetitive and less sustained than is clonus.
Hypotonia
MedGen UID:
10133
Concept ID:
C0026827
Finding
Hypotonia is an abnormally low muscle tone (the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle). Even when relaxed, muscles have a continuous and passive partial contraction which provides some resistance to passive stretching. Hypotonia thus manifests as diminished resistance to passive stretching. Hypotonia is not the same as muscle weakness, although the two conditions can co-exist.
Scoliosis
MedGen UID:
11348
Concept ID:
C0036439
Disease or Syndrome
The presence of an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.
Progressive microcephaly
MedGen UID:
340542
Concept ID:
C1850456
Anatomical Abnormality
Progressive microcephaly is diagnosed when the head circumference falls progressively behind age- and gender-dependent norms.
Generalized hypotonia
MedGen UID:
346841
Concept ID:
C1858120
Finding
Generalized muscular hypotonia (abnormally low muscle tone).
Hyperventilation
MedGen UID:
9377
Concept ID:
C0020578
Finding
Hyperventilation refers to an increased pulmonary ventilation rate that is faster than necessary for the exchange of gases. Hyperventilation can result from increased frequency of breathing, an increased tidal volume, or both, and leads to an excess intake of oxygen and the blowing off of carbon dioxide.
Prominent forehead
MedGen UID:
373291
Concept ID:
C1837260
Finding
Forward prominence of the entire forehead, due to protrusion of the frontal bone.
Thick lower lip vermilion
MedGen UID:
326567
Concept ID:
C1839739
Finding
Increased thickness of the lower lip, leading to a prominent appearance of the lower lip. The height of the vermilion of the lower lip in the midline is more than 2 SD above the mean. Alternatively, an apparently increased height of the vermilion of the lower lip in the frontal view (subjective).
Anteverted nares
MedGen UID:
326648
Concept ID:
C1840077
Finding
Anteriorly-facing nostrils viewed with the head in the Frankfurt horizontal and the eyes of the observer level with the eyes of the subject. This gives the appearance of an upturned nose (upturned nasal tip).
Broad forehead
MedGen UID:
338610
Concept ID:
C1849089
Finding
Width of the forehead or distance between the frontotemporales is more than two standard deviations above the mean (objective); or apparently increased distance between the two sides of the forehead.
Deeply set eye
MedGen UID:
473112
Concept ID:
C0423224
Finding
An eye that is more deeply recessed into the plane of the face than is typical.
Cerebral visual impairment
MedGen UID:
890568
Concept ID:
C4048268
Pathologic Function
A form of loss of vision caused by damage to the visual cortex rather than a defect in the eye.

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVDevelopmental and epileptic encephalopathy, 2

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Zuberi SM, Wirrell E, Yozawitz E, Wilmshurst JM, Specchio N, Riney K, Pressler R, Auvin S, Samia P, Hirsch E, Galicchio S, Triki C, Snead OC, Wiebe S, Cross JH, Tinuper P, Scheffer IE, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Nabbout R
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1349-1397. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17239. PMID: 35503712
Wirrell EC, Hood V, Knupp KG, Meskis MA, Nabbout R, Scheffer IE, Wilmshurst J, Sullivan J
Epilepsia 2022 Jul;63(7):1761-1777. Epub 2022 May 12 doi: 10.1111/epi.17274. PMID: 35490361Free PMC Article
Leonard H, Downs J, Benke TA, Swanson L, Olson H, Demarest S
Lancet Neurol 2022 Jun;21(6):563-576. Epub 2022 Apr 25 doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(22)00035-7. PMID: 35483386Free PMC Article

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Strzelczyk A, Schubert-Bast S
CNS Drugs 2022 Oct;36(10):1079-1111. Epub 2022 Oct 4 doi: 10.1007/s40263-022-00955-9. PMID: 36194365Free PMC Article
Zuberi SM, Wirrell E, Yozawitz E, Wilmshurst JM, Specchio N, Riney K, Pressler R, Auvin S, Samia P, Hirsch E, Galicchio S, Triki C, Snead OC, Wiebe S, Cross JH, Tinuper P, Scheffer IE, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Nabbout R
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1349-1397. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17239. PMID: 35503712
Wirrell EC, Hood V, Knupp KG, Meskis MA, Nabbout R, Scheffer IE, Wilmshurst J, Sullivan J
Epilepsia 2022 Jul;63(7):1761-1777. Epub 2022 May 12 doi: 10.1111/epi.17274. PMID: 35490361Free PMC Article
Reynolds C, King MD, Gorman KM
Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2020 Jan;24:117-122. Epub 2019 Dec 12 doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2019.12.016. PMID: 31924505
Vezzani A, Fujinami RS, White HS, Preux PM, Blümcke I, Sander JW, Löscher W
Acta Neuropathol 2016 Feb;131(2):211-234. Epub 2015 Sep 30 doi: 10.1007/s00401-015-1481-5. PMID: 26423537Free PMC Article

Diagnosis

Zuberi SM, Wirrell E, Yozawitz E, Wilmshurst JM, Specchio N, Riney K, Pressler R, Auvin S, Samia P, Hirsch E, Galicchio S, Triki C, Snead OC, Wiebe S, Cross JH, Tinuper P, Scheffer IE, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Nabbout R
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1349-1397. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17239. PMID: 35503712
Wirrell EC, Hood V, Knupp KG, Meskis MA, Nabbout R, Scheffer IE, Wilmshurst J, Sullivan J
Epilepsia 2022 Jul;63(7):1761-1777. Epub 2022 May 12 doi: 10.1111/epi.17274. PMID: 35490361Free PMC Article
Leonard H, Downs J, Benke TA, Swanson L, Olson H, Demarest S
Lancet Neurol 2022 Jun;21(6):563-576. Epub 2022 Apr 25 doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(22)00035-7. PMID: 35483386Free PMC Article
Myers KA
Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2022 Apr 1;28(2):339-362. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000001077. PMID: 35393962
Pavone P, Polizzi A, Marino SD, Corsello G, Falsaperla R, Marino S, Ruggieri M
Neurol Sci 2020 Dec;41(12):3547-3562. Epub 2020 Aug 22 doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04600-5. PMID: 32827285Free PMC Article

Therapy

Pong AW, Xu KJ, Klein P
Curr Opin Neurol 2023 Apr 1;36(2):77-85. Epub 2023 Feb 10 doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000001144. PMID: 36762638
Elkommos S, Mula M
Expert Opin Pharmacother 2022 Dec;23(18):2023-2034. Epub 2022 Sep 27 doi: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2128670. PMID: 36154780
Zuberi SM, Wirrell E, Yozawitz E, Wilmshurst JM, Specchio N, Riney K, Pressler R, Auvin S, Samia P, Hirsch E, Galicchio S, Triki C, Snead OC, Wiebe S, Cross JH, Tinuper P, Scheffer IE, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Nabbout R
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1349-1397. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17239. PMID: 35503712
Samanta D
Brain Dev 2021 Jan;43(1):32-44. Epub 2020 Sep 4 doi: 10.1016/j.braindev.2020.08.014. PMID: 32893075Free PMC Article
Vlaskamp DRM, Shaw BJ, Burgess R, Mei D, Montomoli M, Xie H, Myers CT, Bennett MF, XiangWei W, Williams D, Maas SM, Brooks AS, Mancini GMS, van de Laar IMBH, van Hagen JM, Ware TL, Webster RI, Malone S, Berkovic SF, Kalnins RM, Sicca F, Korenke GC, van Ravenswaaij-Arts CMA, Hildebrand MS, Mefford HC, Jiang Y, Guerrini R, Scheffer IE
Neurology 2019 Jan 8;92(2):e96-e107. Epub 2018 Dec 12 doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000006729. PMID: 30541864Free PMC Article

Prognosis

Specchio N, Wirrell EC, Scheffer IE, Nabbout R, Riney K, Samia P, Guerreiro M, Gwer S, Zuberi SM, Wilmshurst JM, Yozawitz E, Pressler R, Hirsch E, Wiebe S, Cross HJ, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Tinuper P, Auvin S
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1398-1442. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17241. PMID: 35503717
Zuberi SM, Wirrell E, Yozawitz E, Wilmshurst JM, Specchio N, Riney K, Pressler R, Auvin S, Samia P, Hirsch E, Galicchio S, Triki C, Snead OC, Wiebe S, Cross JH, Tinuper P, Scheffer IE, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Nabbout R
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1349-1397. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17239. PMID: 35503712
Myers KA
Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2022 Apr 1;28(2):339-362. doi: 10.1212/CON.0000000000001077. PMID: 35393962
Pavone P, Polizzi A, Marino SD, Corsello G, Falsaperla R, Marino S, Ruggieri M
Neurol Sci 2020 Dec;41(12):3547-3562. Epub 2020 Aug 22 doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04600-5. PMID: 32827285Free PMC Article
Reynolds C, King MD, Gorman KM
Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2020 Jan;24:117-122. Epub 2019 Dec 12 doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2019.12.016. PMID: 31924505

Clinical prediction guides

Symonds JD, Elliott KS, Shetty J, Armstrong M, Brunklaus A, Cutcutache I, Diver LA, Dorris L, Gardiner S, Jollands A, Joss S, Kirkpatrick M, McLellan A, MacLeod S, O'Regan M, Page M, Pilley E, Pilz DT, Stephen E, Stewart K, Ashrafian H, Knight JC, Zuberi SM
Brain 2021 Oct 22;144(9):2879-2891. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab162. PMID: 34687210Free PMC Article
Reynolds C, King MD, Gorman KM
Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2020 Jan;24:117-122. Epub 2019 Dec 12 doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2019.12.016. PMID: 31924505
Burgess R, Wang S, McTague A, Boysen KE, Yang X, Zeng Q, Myers KA, Rochtus A, Trivisano M, Gill D; EIMFS Consortium, Sadleir LG, Specchio N, Guerrini R, Marini C, Zhang YH, Mefford HC, Kurian MA, Poduri AH, Scheffer IE
Ann Neurol 2019 Dec;86(6):821-831. doi: 10.1002/ana.25619. PMID: 31618474Free PMC Article
Takata A, Nakashima M, Saitsu H, Mizuguchi T, Mitsuhashi S, Takahashi Y, Okamoto N, Osaka H, Nakamura K, Tohyama J, Haginoya K, Takeshita S, Kuki I, Okanishi T, Goto T, Sasaki M, Sakai Y, Miyake N, Miyatake S, Tsuchida N, Iwama K, Minase G, Sekiguchi F, Fujita A, Imagawa E, Koshimizu E, Uchiyama Y, Hamanaka K, Ohba C, Itai T, Aoi H, Saida K, Sakaguchi T, Den K, Takahashi R, Ikeda H, Yamaguchi T, Tsukamoto K, Yoshitomi S, Oboshi T, Imai K, Kimizu T, Kobayashi Y, Kubota M, Kashii H, Baba S, Iai M, Kira R, Hara M, Ohta M, Miyata Y, Miyata R, Takanashi JI, Matsui J, Yokochi K, Shimono M, Amamoto M, Takayama R, Hirabayashi S, Aiba K, Matsumoto H, Nabatame S, Shiihara T, Kato M, Matsumoto N
Nat Commun 2019 Jun 7;10(1):2506. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10482-9. PMID: 31175295Free PMC Article
Bikson M, Grossman P, Thomas C, Zannou AL, Jiang J, Adnan T, Mourdoukoutas AP, Kronberg G, Truong D, Boggio P, Brunoni AR, Charvet L, Fregni F, Fritsch B, Gillick B, Hamilton RH, Hampstead BM, Jankord R, Kirton A, Knotkova H, Liebetanz D, Liu A, Loo C, Nitsche MA, Reis J, Richardson JD, Rotenberg A, Turkeltaub PE, Woods AJ
Brain Stimul 2016 Sep-Oct;9(5):641-661. Epub 2016 Jun 15 doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2016.06.004. PMID: 27372845Free PMC Article

Recent systematic reviews

Olusanya BO, Smythe T, Ogbo FA, Nair MKC, Scher M, Davis AC
Front Public Health 2023;11:1122009. Epub 2023 Feb 16 doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1122009. PMID: 36891340Free PMC Article
Strzelczyk A, Zuberi SM, Striano P, Rosenow F, Schubert-Bast S
Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023 Mar 1;18(1):42. doi: 10.1186/s13023-023-02626-4. PMID: 36859290Free PMC Article
Sheidley BR, Malinowski J, Bergner AL, Bier L, Gloss DS, Mu W, Mulhern MM, Partack EJ, Poduri A
Epilepsia 2022 Feb;63(2):375-387. Epub 2021 Dec 10 doi: 10.1111/epi.17141. PMID: 34893972
McTague A, Martland T, Appleton R
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 Jan 10;1(1):CD001905. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001905.pub3. PMID: 29320603Free PMC Article
Veroniki AA, Rios P, Cogo E, Straus SE, Finkelstein Y, Kealey R, Reynen E, Soobiah C, Thavorn K, Hutton B, Hemmelgarn BR, Yazdi F, D'Souza J, MacDonald H, Tricco AC
BMJ Open 2017 Jul 20;7(7):e017248. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017248. PMID: 28729328Free PMC Article

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.
    • Bookshelf
      See practice and clinical guidelines in NCBI Bookshelf. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Recent activity

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...