From Misdiagnosis to Treatment: Genetic Landscape and Genotype-Phenotype Correlations of Hyperekplexia.

BACKGROUND

Hyperekplexia (hereditary startle disease) is a rare, treatable neurogenetic disorder often misdiagnosed as epilepsy, leading to unnecessary interventions. This study aims to characterize the clinical and genetic features of Turkish patients with hyperekplexia and highlight genotype-phenotype correlations.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 16 patients diagnosed with hyperekplexia across five tertiary centers in southern Turkey from 2011 to 2025. All patients underwent genetic testing via Next-Generation Sequencing. Clinical features, treatment responses, and neurodevelopmental outcomes were evaluated according to specific gene mutations (GLRA1, SLC6A5, and GLRB).

RESULTS

All patients (100%) presented with exaggerated startle responses and nonepileptic tonic attacks but were initially misdiagnosed with epilepsy. The median delay in diagnosis was 26 months. The misdiagnosis periods for the patients were as follows: one-6 months (n = 4, 25%); 6-12 months (n = 3, 18%); 12-24 months (n = 2, 12%); 24-36 months (n = 4, 25%); and more than 36 months (n = 3, 18%). Genetic analysis revealed GLRA1mutations in 56% (n = 9), SLC6A5 in 25% (n = 4), and GLRB in 19% (n = 3). We identified a homozygous nonsense mutation in the GLRB gene (c.995 G > A; p.Trp332Ter) in three patients from the same family. Genotype-phenotype correlation revealed distinct patterns: while patients with GLRA1 and SLC6A5 mutations generally responded well to clonazepam, those with the GLRB mutation exhibited severe global neurodevelopmental delay, autism spectrum features, and required levetiracetam due to poor response to benzodiazepines.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperekplexia should be strongly considered in infants with exaggerated startle reflexes to prevent potential developmental consequences of delayed diagnosis. Furthermore, this study confirms that GLRB variants may be associated with a more complex phenotype, including autism and resistance to standard benzodiazepine therapy.