Cited by 3,483Epilepsy research and treatmentNeurology and Historical StudiesEEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces

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

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Fisher, Robert S., Cross, J. Helen, French, Jacqueline A., Higurashi, Norimichi, Hirsch, Edouard, Jansen, Floor E., Lagae, Lieven, Moshé, Solomon L. +4 more·2017·Epilepsia

Abstract

Summary: 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.

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  • Epilepsy syndromes are defined by their age of onset, seizure types, EEG features, developmental course, and associated features.

    “Epilepsy syndromes are defined by their age of onset, seizure types 163 , EEG features, developmental course, and associated features.”

    From Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (2024) · cites this paper as [163]

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  1. [19]Gomez-Alonso J, Bellas-Lamas P. [The new International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classification of epilepsies: a step in the wrong direction?]. Rev Neurol 2011;52:541-547.

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Authors
Fisher, R. S., Cross, J. H., French, J. A., Higurashi, N., Hirsch, E., Jansen, F. E., Lagae, L., Moshé, S. L., Peltola, J., Roulet Perez, E., Scheffer, I. E., & Zuberi, S. M.
Affiliations
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • Great Ormond Street Hospital (GB)
  • NYU Langone Health (US)
  • Jikei University School of Medicine (JP)
  • Unite Francis Rohmer Strasbourg France
  • University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
  • Tampere University Hospital (FI)
  • Pediatric Neurology and Rehabilitation Unit CHUV Lausanne Switzerland
  • Royal Children's Hospital (AU)
  • Royal Hospital for Children (GB)
Corresponding author
Fisher, Robert S.
Venue
Epilepsia
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-03-08
Volume
58
Issue
4
Pages
522-530
ISSN
  • 0013-9580 (ISSN-L)
  • 1528-1167
OpenAlex
W2594644573
Cited by
3,483
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 295 · 2025: 439 · 2024: 440 · 2023: 428 · 2022: 422 · 2021: 422 · 2020: 403 · 2019: 303 · 2018: 238 · 2017: 82 · 2016: 3 · 2012: 1
FWCI
230.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Epilepsia (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • Lirias (KU Leuven) (submittedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (NS43209)
  • Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy
  • U.S. Department of Defense
  • Medtronic
  • National Science Foundation
  • Eisai
  • Pfizer
  • Universidade Católica de Brasília
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  • Elsevier Foundation
  • Dravet Syndrome Foundation
  • Epilepsy Research UK
  • Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Epilepsy research and treatment
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neurology and Historical Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
Keywords
seizure classification, seizure types, focal seizures, generalized seizures, seizure onset, focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, secondary generalized seizures, absence seizures, myoclonic seizures, epileptic spasms
MeSH terms
Epilepsy, Humans, International Agencies, Terminology as Topic, Seizures, Societies, Medical

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