ILAE CLASSIFICATION OF THE EPILEPSIES: THE 2017 REVISION AND UPDATE

Abstract

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) has developed and approved the Operational classification of seizure types 2017 and the Classification of the Epilepsies 2017 . According to the ILAE 2017 Operational classification of seizure types, seizures can be initially divided into focal or generalized; and the seizure onset is of crucial importance in this case. Focal seizures are optionally subdivided into focal aware seizures and focal impaired awareness seizures. Several new types of generalized-onset seizures were implemented. Specific motor and non-motor classifiers may be added. Unknown onset seizures are placed separately. Three levels of diagnostics are specified in the 2017 ILAE Classification of the Epilepsies: seizure type (defined in accordance with the 2017 ILAE Operational classification of seizure types), epilepsy type (focal, generalized, combined generalized and focal, unknown), and epilepsy syndrome. An etiologic diagnosis should be considered at each step along the diagnostic pathway. A patient ’s epilepsy may be classified into more than one etiological category. The term “benign” is replaced by the terms “self-limited” and “pharmacoresponsive” to be used where appropriate. The term “developmental and epileptic encephalopathy” can be applied in whole or in part where appropriate. The 2017 Operational classification of seizure types and the 2017 ILAE Classification of the Epilepsies can be helpful both in routine clinical practice and scientific research that will assist in improving epilepsy care and quality of life of patients with epilepsies.