GENERALIZED EPILEPSY

Patients with generalized epilepsy have generalized seizure types and may have typical interictal and/or ictal EEG findings that accompany generalized seizure types (for example generalized spike-wave).

Genetic generalised epilepsy

A genetic generalized epilepsy is a generalised epilepsy that is understood to have a genetic etiology. This does not always mean that the epilepsy is inherited or can be transmitted to offspring, as the genetic etiology may be a de novo pathogenic variant, or the genetic etiology may have complex/polygenic inheritance.

Idiopathic generalised epilepsy

The idiopathic generalized epilepsies are a subgroup of the genetic generalised epilepsies and compose four epilepsy syndromes childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone. These epilepsy syndromes have polygenic inheritance with or without environmental factors contributing to seizure susceptibility. Seizure types include one or a combination of absence seizures, myoclonic seizures and/or generalized tonic-clonic seizures.