A diagnostic practice study using international classification of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes in 302 cases

We attempted to classify, according to the International Classification of Epilepsies and Epileptic Syndromes (1989), 302 patients at a tertiary epilepsy referral center. Proportion in categories as defined by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) were as follows: localization-related epilepsies: 62.9%, generalized epilepsies: 22.2%, epilepsies undetermined whether focal or generalized: 14.2%, special syndromes: 0.7%. Only 26.8% cases were definitely classified in single diagnostic ILAE categories based on ictal CCTV/EEG recordings. The distribution of epileptic syndromes was different from the previous reports due to various methods of case ascertainment and inclusion criteria. Use of specific criteria for the reliability study of international classification has been proposed.