Further evidence of biallelic variants in KCNK18 as a cause of intellectual disability and epilepsy with febrile seizure plus

Introduction: KCNK18 , a potassium channel subfamily K member 18 (MIM*613655), encodes for TWIK-related spinal cord K+ channel (TRESK) and is important for maintaining neuronal excitability. Monoallelic variants in KCNK18 are known to cause autosomal dominant migraine, with or without aura, susceptibility to, 13 (MIM#613656). Recently, biallelic missense variants in KCNK18 have been reported in three individuals from a non-consanguineous family with intellectual disability, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and seizure.

Methods: Singleton exome sequencing was performed for the proband after detailed clinical evaluation to identify the disease-causing variants in concordance with the phenotype.

Results: We herein report an individual with intellectual disability, developmental delay, ASD, and epilepsy with febrile seizure plus with a novel homozygous stopgain variant, c.499C>T p.(Arg167Ter) in KCNK18 .

Conclusion: This report further validates KCNK18 as a cause of autosomal recessive intellectual disability, epilepsy, and ASD.