Seizure recurrence following pyridoxine withdrawal in a patient with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy (PDE) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by early onset and recurrent seizures that can be controlled by a high dose of pyridoxine. PDE is caused by mutations in ALDH7A1, which encodes antiquitin. Antiquitin converts α-aminoadipic semialdehyde to α-aminoadipic acid. Seizure recurrence after pyridoxine withdrawal is a criterion for diagnosis, but PDE can be diagnosed conclusively by genetic testing for mutations in the ALDH7A1 gene. In this case study, we report the long-term follow-up of a patient suspected with PDE. She experienced prolonged generalized tonic seizures and was hospitalized in an intensive care unit following pyridoxine withdrawal. Later, we identified a compound heterozygous mutation, c.1216G>A, p.Gly406Arg, and a novel splice donor site mutation, IVS9+5G>A. Confirmation of these mutations would have prevented an unsafe withdrawal test. This case suggests the importance of the genetic determination of PDE to avoid the diagnostic withdrawal of pyridoxine.