Tuberous Sclerosis and Epilepsy

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is an inherited disorder resulting from mutations in one of two tumor suppressor genes: TSC1 (hamartin) and TSC2 (tuberin). Hamartin and tuberin, the protein products of TSC1 and TSC2, form a functional protein complex in the mTOR pathway that controls cell growth and proliferation. Epilepsy is the most common disorder in TSC, frequently associated with intractable and early onset seizures, and often as infantile spasms. Epilepsy surgery is an option for TSC patients with medically intractable epilepsy. Multimodality neuroimaging has improved the detection of epileptogenic foci, allowing an increased number of TSC patients to be evaluated noninvasively for resective surgery. Advances in understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of the TSC are crucial to establish new therapeutic approaches for individuals with TSC.