Novel variant in CHRNA4 with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and contribution to precise medicine

BACKGROUND: Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) or benign rolandic epilepsy is the most common epileptic syndrome in school‐age children. Genetics is an important factor in BECTS pathogenesis, and <10 genes were associated with BECTS. This study aimed to identify novel genetic causes of BECTS. METHODS: We conducted whole‐exome sequencing on a patient with BECTS and validated the findings by Sanger sequencing in a pedigree with three patients. RESULTS: CHRNA4 c.1007G>A was identified in three patients with BECTS in a pedigree. Carbamazepine, which should be carefully used in BECTS, was observed to be effective in the treatment of our atypical BECTS proband based on the molecular diagnosis of CHRNA4. CONCLUSION: This is the first study on CHRNA4 variant in BECTS, which widened the genetic spectrum of BECTS and contributed to precise medicine in BECTS.