A sleep modulated Channelopathy: a novel CACNA1A pathogenic variant identified in episodic Ataxia type 2 and a potential link to sleep alleviated migraine

Background To describe a patient with sleep alleviated episodic ataxia type 2 with a novel CACNA1A pathogenic variant and provide a possible link to sleep responsive migraine. Case presentation A 26-year-old woman with recurrent attacks of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, ataxia and dysarthria presented for a possible diagnosis of vestibular migraine. Unique to her attacks was if she could fall asleep for as little as 15 min the spells would subside. If however she remained awake the attacks would continue unabated. A presumed diagnosis of episodic ataxia type 2 was made and she became attack free on acetazolamide without recurrence. Genetic testing demonstrated a novel pathogenic variant in CACNA1A on chromosome 19. This pathogenic variant has not been previously reported in the literature and is suggested to truncate the CACNA1A polypeptide by introducing a premature stop codon. Conclusion A case of episodic ataxia type 2 with a novel pathogenic variant in CACNA1A is described. Interestingly, the patient's symptoms would completely alleviate with sleep which suggests a sleep modulated channelopathy. The mechanisms by which sleep could potentially alter this pathogenic variant are hypothesized. A potential link to sleep alleviated migraine is suggested. Further study of this novel pathogenic variant may help us understand not only how sleep can modulate episodic ataxia type 2, but also migraine.