Classifi cation of epileptic seizures and epilepsy syndromes

Abstract

The efforts of ILAE for providing a standardized classification and terminology of epileptic seizures and epilepsy syndrome; the international classification of epileptic seizures in 1981 and international classification of epilepsy syndromes and epilepsies in 1989, have provided outstanding achievement in promoting epilepsy care, research, and education over the past decades. However, further attempts of ILAE to improve and update the classification systems have not been successful due to significant heterogeneities and still incomplete knowledge on the fundamental pathophysiology of epilepsies. Despite these shortcomings, the Commission on classification and Terminology of ILAE recently published a new proposal, “Revised Terminology and Concepts for Organization of Epileptic seizures and Epilepsies”, which has generated lively discussions and debates throughout the international epilepsy communities. The basic concepts for the change seem to be rational and well taken but the proposal was not a classification, which made the epilepsy communities somewhat confused and disappointed. A new proposal of classification is urgently needed to replace the overdue ILAE-classification.