Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies: etiology, diagnostic advances, and evolving management- a narrative review.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/8p3tj762Keywords:
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, Epilepsy genetics, Electroencephalography, Neuroimaging, Precision medicineAbstract
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) comprise a severe spectrum of early-onset epilepsy syndromes where epileptic activity aggressively drives progressive cognitive and neurological regression beyond the underlying pathology. This narrative review evaluates the expanding genetic architecture of DEE, explores modern diagnostic developments, and outlines the ongoing paradigm shift from conventional symptomatic management toward gene-targeted, precision therapeutic strategies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across major databases for articles published between 2010 and 2026.
Recent breakthroughs in next-generation sequencing have dramatically escalated diagnostic yields, allowing clinicians to identify pathogenic variants earlier and establish refined genotype-phenotype correlations. This molecular precision has opened doors for novel mechanism-based interventions, including antisense oligonucleotides, gene replacement platforms, and mutation-specific pharmacology. Concurrently, artificial intelligence-driven electroencephalography analytics and wearable multimodal monitoring networks are improving real-time seizure mapping and patient safety. However, widespread clinical implementation remains restricted by intense genetic heterogeneity, uncertain long-term safety records, and steep financial barriers.
Ultimately, incorporating genomic diagnostics into standard practice is transforming the clinical trajectory of DEE. Future research must prioritize multi-center clinical trials to validate long-term therapeutic efficacy and optimize early-intervention windows during critical stages of neuroplasticity.
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