Papers of the Week

The purpose of this study was to enhance understanding of CACNA1A gene variants by elucidating the clinical profiles of patients with different variants. The overlapping features and varying phenotypic characteristics of these neurological disorders pose challenges for clinicians. A data collection form was utilized to gather clinical features, examination details, and treatment information associated with CACNA1A variants. Thirty-one patients were included in the study from 11 different clinics in Turkey. Cases were assessed by comparing their information with existing literature. The study initially included 32 patients from 29 families, with 31 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Clinical manifestations ranged from congenital onset hypotonia to motor seizures. Within the group of patients, 87% were diagnosed with epilepsy, 61% had neurodevelopmental defects, 32% experienced ataxia, 22% had eye movement problems, 16% suffered from migraines, and 13% had recurrent encephalopathy. Thirty percent of individuals exhibited cerebellar atrophy. A subset of individuals exhibited various forms of cognitive impairment and different kinds of ataxia.