Studio comparativo di due famiglie Italiane con ADCME : possibile effetto fondatore?

We reviewed the clinical-neurophysiologic characteristics of 53 patients of two families affected by myoclonic tremor, photosensitivity and epilepsy. Eight family members (3 of family A and 5 of family B) presented "tremulous arousals" in their early infancy. The clinical-neurophysiologic phenotypic expression of the disease was extremely homogeneous among members of the two families. Moreover, both families originated from a small geographic region of southern Italy. Strictly from the clinical point of view, we propose the hypothesis of a founder effect at least for a part of the Italian cases of ADCME. This consideration could stimulate to intensify the efforts for further genetic investigations.