Revised terminology and concepts for organization of seizures and epilepsies: Report of the ILAE Commission on Classification and Terminology, 2005–2009 |
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| Authors: | Anne T. Berg Samuel F. Berkovic Martin J. Brodie Jeffrey Buchhalter J. Helen Cross Walter Van Emde Boas Jerome Engel Jacqueline French Tracy A. Glauser Gary W. Mathern Solomon L. Moshé Douglas Nordli Perrine Plouin Ingrid E. Scheffer |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Biology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, U.S.A.;2. Department of Neurology, Epilepsy Center, Northwestern Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.;3. Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne (Austin Health), West Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia;4. Epilepsy Unit, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland;5. Department of Neurology, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A.;6. Neurosciences Unit, UCL‐Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom;7. National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy, Lingfield, United Kingdom;8. Department of EEG/EMU, Epilepsy Clinic “Meer & Bosch,” Heemstede;9. Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands;10. Department of Neurology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.;11. Department of Neurology, New York University, New York, New York, U.S.A.;12. Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.;13. Department of Neurosurgery, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.;14. Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, U.S.A.;15. Department of Neurology, H?pital Necker Enfant Malades, Paris, France |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Commission on Classification and Terminology has revised concepts, terminology, and approaches for classifying seizures and forms of epilepsy. Generalized and focal are redefined for seizures as occurring in and rapidly engaging bilaterally distributed networks (generalized) and within networks limited to one hemisphere and either discretely localized or more widely distributed (focal). Classification of generalized seizures is simplified. No natural classification for focal seizures exists; focal seizures should be described according to their manifestations (e.g., dyscognitive, focal motor). The concepts of generalized and focal do not apply to electroclinical syndromes. Genetic, structural–metabolic, and unknown represent modified concepts to replace idiopathic, symptomatic, and cryptogenic. Not all epilepsies are recognized as electroclinical syndromes. Organization of forms of epilepsy is first by specificity: electroclinical syndromes, nonsyndromic epilepsies with structural–metabolic causes, and epilepsies of unknown cause. Further organization within these divisions can be accomplished in a flexible manner depending on purpose. Natural classes (e.g., specific underlying cause, age at onset, associated seizure type), or pragmatic groupings (e.g., epileptic encephalopathies, self‐limited electroclinical syndromes) may serve as the basis for organizing knowledge about recognized forms of epilepsy and facilitate identification of new forms. |
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| Keywords: | Epilepsy Classification Syndrome Seizure Organization |
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