title: Genetic analysis of PHOX2B in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the contribution of sequence variations in PHOX2B to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who died of SUDEP were identified in 2 major Australian cohorts, the Epilepsy Genetics research program in Melbourne and postmortem cases at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Sydney. Coding exons of the PHOX2B gene were sequenced and a fluorescent sizing assay was used to measure the PHOX2B polyalanine repeat sequence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sequencing of 68 cases of SUDEP identified a 15-nucleotide deletion in the PHOX2B polyalanine repeat region in one case, a 16-year-old adolescent with focal dyscognitive seizures from age 5 years. This deletion was verified using a fluorescent sizing assay. Two synonymous variants were identified in 4 cases, but no PHOX2B polyalanine repeat expansion alleles or point mutations were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absence of PHOX2B polyalanine repeat expansion alleles or point mutations in 68 Australian cases of SUDEP, with one deletion of uncertain significance, shows that PHOX2B mutations are not a common risk factor for SUDEP.
authors.affiliation: From the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology (R.D.B., C.C., C.S.), Centenary Institute, Sydney; Sydney Medical School (R.D.B., C.S.), University of Sydney; Neurology Department (D.E.C., B.M.R.), Northern Health, Melbourne; Epilepsy Research Centre (D.E.C., S.F.B., I.E.S.), Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health (I.E.S.), Melbourne; Department of Paediatrics (I.E.S.), University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; and Department of Cardiology (C.S.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Bagnall
authors.affiliation: From the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology (R.D.B., C.C., C.S.), Centenary Institute, Sydney; Sydney Medical School (R.D.B., C.S.), University of Sydney; Neurology Department (D.E.C., B.M.R.), Northern Health, Melbourne; Epilepsy Research Centre (D.E.C., S.F.B., I.E.S.), Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health (I.E.S.), Melbourne; Department of Paediatrics (I.E.S.), University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; and Department of Cardiology (C.S.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Crompton
authors.affiliation: From the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology (R.D.B., C.C., C.S.), Centenary Institute, Sydney; Sydney Medical School (R.D.B., C.S.), University of Sydney; Neurology Department (D.E.C., B.M.R.), Northern Health, Melbourne; Epilepsy Research Centre (D.E.C., S.F.B., I.E.S.), Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health (I.E.S.), Melbourne; Department of Paediatrics (I.E.S.), University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; and Department of Cardiology (C.S.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cutmore
authors.affiliation: From the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology (R.D.B., C.C., C.S.), Centenary Institute, Sydney; Sydney Medical School (R.D.B., C.S.), University of Sydney; Neurology Department (D.E.C., B.M.R.), Northern Health, Melbourne; Epilepsy Research Centre (D.E.C., S.F.B., I.E.S.), Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health (I.E.S.), Melbourne; Department of Paediatrics (I.E.S.), University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; and Department of Cardiology (C.S.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Brigid M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.affiliation: From the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology (R.D.B., C.C., C.S.), Centenary Institute, Sydney; Sydney Medical School (R.D.B., C.S.), University of Sydney; Neurology Department (D.E.C., B.M.R.), Northern Health, Melbourne; Epilepsy Research Centre (D.E.C., S.F.B., I.E.S.), Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health (I.E.S.), Melbourne; Department of Paediatrics (I.E.S.), University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; and Department of Cardiology (C.S.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Samuel F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Berkovic
authors.affiliation: From the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology (R.D.B., C.C., C.S.), Centenary Institute, Sydney; Sydney Medical School (R.D.B., C.S.), University of Sydney; Neurology Department (D.E.C., B.M.R.), Northern Health, Melbourne; Epilepsy Research Centre (D.E.C., S.F.B., I.E.S.), Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health (I.E.S.), Melbourne; Department of Paediatrics (I.E.S.), University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; and Department of Cardiology (C.S.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Ingrid E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Scheffer
authors.affiliation: From the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology (R.D.B., C.C., C.S.), Centenary Institute, Sydney; Sydney Medical School (R.D.B., C.S.), University of Sydney; Neurology Department (D.E.C., B.M.R.), Northern Health, Melbourne; Epilepsy Research Centre (D.E.C., S.F.B., I.E.S.), Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne; Florey Institute of Neurosciences and Mental Health (I.E.S.), Melbourne; Department of Paediatrics (I.E.S.), University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne; and Department of Cardiology (C.S.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. c.semsarian@centenary.org.au.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Semsarian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003645:Death, Sudden; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012307:Risk Factors; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C109220:NBPhox protein; D010455:Peptides; D014157:Transcription Factors; C019529:polyalanine