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. 2017 Apr;58(4):522-530.
doi: 10.1111/epi.13670. Epub 2017 Mar 8.

Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: Position Paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology

Robert S Fisher  1 , J Helen Cross  2 , Jacqueline A French  3 , Norimichi Higurashi  4 , Edouard Hirsch  5 , Floor E Jansen  6 , Lieven Lagae  7 , Solomon L Moshé  8 , Jukka Peltola  9 , Eliane Roulet Perez  10 , Ingrid E Scheffer  11 , Sameer M Zuberi  12   13
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Free article

Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: Position Paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology

Robert S Fisher et al. Epilepsia. 2017 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) presents a revised operational classification of seizure types. The purpose of such a revision is to recognize that some seizure types can have either a focal or generalized onset, to allow classification when the onset is unobserved, to include some missing seizure types, and to adopt more transparent names. Because current knowledge is insufficient to form a scientifically based classification, the 2017 Classification is operational (practical) and based on the 1981 Classification, extended in 2010. Changes include the following: (1) "partial" becomes "focal"; (2) awareness is used as a classifier of focal seizures; (3) the terms dyscognitive, simple partial, complex partial, psychic, and secondarily generalized are eliminated; (4) new focal seizure types include automatisms, behavior arrest, hyperkinetic, autonomic, cognitive, and emotional; (5) atonic, clonic, epileptic spasms, myoclonic, and tonic seizures can be of either focal or generalized onset; (6) focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure replaces secondarily generalized seizure; (7) new generalized seizure types are absence with eyelid myoclonia, myoclonic absence, myoclonic-atonic, myoclonic-tonic-clonic; and (8) seizures of unknown onset may have features that can still be classified. The new classification does not represent a fundamental change, but allows greater flexibility and transparency in naming seizure types.

Keywords: Classification; Epilepsy; Focal; Generalized; Seizures; Taxonomy.

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Comment in

  • Response to the numbering of seizure types.
    Fisher RS, Helen Cross J, D'Souza C, French JA, Haut S, Higurashi N, Hirsch E, Jansen FE, Lagae L, Moshe SL, Korey SR, Purpura DP, Peltola J, Roulet Perez E, Scheffer IE, Schulze-Bonhage A, Somerville E, Sperling M, Yacubian EM, Zuberi SM. Fisher RS, et al. Epilepsia. 2017 Jul;58(7):1300-1301. doi: 10.1111/epi.13800. Epilepsia. 2017. PMID: 28677853 No abstract available.
  • The new ILAE seizure classification: 63 seizure types?
    Beniczky S, Rubboli G, Aurlien H, Hirsch LJ, Trinka E, Schomer DL; SCORE consortium. Beniczky S, et al. Epilepsia. 2017 Jul;58(7):1298-1300. doi: 10.1111/epi.13799. Epilepsia. 2017. PMID: 28677857 No abstract available.
  • How Have We Come This Far? Epilepsy Classification Through the Ages.
    Nickels K. Nickels K. Epilepsy Curr. 2017 Jul-Aug;17(4):229-231. doi: 10.5698/1535-7597.17.4.229. Epilepsy Curr. 2017. PMID: 29225528 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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