title: Genetic generalized epilepsies.
abstract: In the International League Against Epilepsy's most recent revision of classification and terminology, the term idiopathic epilepsy, previously used to describe those epilepsies whose cause was unknown, but presumed genetic, has been removed. It has been replaced by the term genetic epilepsy, only to be used to describe epilepsy in which the etiology has a known or presumed genetic defect in which seizures are the core symptom of the disorder. The purpose of this article was to review the electroclinical spectrum of those epilepsies that would fall under this new designation of genetic epilepsies in the context of specific generalized epilepsy syndromes providing an update in the clinical, electroencephalographic, and genetic findings in these syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. william.gallentine@duke.edu
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Gallentine
authors.forename: Mohamad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mikati
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D009626:Terminology as Topic