Evaluation of Genetic Etiology in Patients With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent disorder of movement or posture due to non-progressive impairments of the developing brain. In children, CP is the most common cause of motor impairment, which is often accompanied by other disorders such as epilepsy, mental retardation, speech and language disorders, eating disorders, visual and hearing disorders, and behavioral disorders. Approximately 1 child in every 500 live births is diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

The causes of CP are usually related to inadequate blood flow and oxygen supply to the baby's central nervous system during pregnancy or birth, complications of premature birth, and other complications in the neonatal period such as respiratory distress, infections, or jaundice. It is estimated that in up to one third of children with CP the cause is unexplained. The cause of CP in these children may also be rare genetic diseases. For some of these diseases a targeted treatment is available.

In Slovenia, all children with CP, born since 1996, are included in the Slovenian National Registry of Cerebral Palsy (SRCP), which is part of the European registry - Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE). Children are entered into the register at University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana at the age of 5, after prior parental consent, otherwise anonymously.

In our study, the investigators will re-examine the data of children with CP, who are registered in the SRCP. All children will be invited to the University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, where they will be re-examined by a neurologist. With the consent of the patient or his/her parent/guardian, blood for genetic test will be taken. Utilising next gen sequencing (NGS), a gene panel of more than 100 genes associated with the CP spectrum disorders will be performed. In the case of confirmed genetic ethiology of CP, the search for specific therapy will be possible.