Novel Association Between SCN1A Mutation and Central Sleep Apnea: A Case of Basilar-Type Migraine

Nazanin Esmaeili; Arian Hasani; Tayebeh Saleh Nejad; Hamed Amirifard

doi:10.18502/crcp.v10i1.19476

Nazanin Esmaeili Autonomous Nervous System (ANS) Association, Students’ Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Arian Hasani Autonomous Nervous System (ANS) Association, Students’ Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Tayebeh Saleh Nejad Department of Molecular Genetics, Ronash Medical Genetics Laboratory, Tehran, Iran.
Hamed Amirifard Department of Neurology, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/crcp.v10i1.19476

Keywords: SCN1A mutation; Central sleep apnea; Basilar-type migraine; Sleep disorders; Genetic mutation; Migraine pathophysiology

Abstract

We report a 37-year-old woman with recurrent episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness, bizarre behavior, social delays, and confusion lasting 3–5 days. Between episodes, she experienced only mild migraine-like headaches. Genetic testing identified an SCN1A mutation, which may cause central sleep apnea, basilar-type migraine, and a channelopathy-related encephalopathic state in her.

This is the first report linking an SCN1A mutation with central sleep apnea. We recommend future cohort studies to clearly examine the association between SCN1A mutation and central sleep apnea.