New ILAE Website Seeks to Improve Epilepsy Diagnosis Process

We are very excited to provide a link to EpilepsyDiagnosis.org, a new resource for the epilepsy community. This extremely useful website was created by a group of doctors and researchers working on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the international epilepsy professional organization.

Features of the Site

• This website provides definitions and descriptions of all diagnostic categories used in epilepsy.
  • This is particularly useful since the ILAE has just updated the classification of epilepsy and is in the process of updating the classification of seizure types.
  • To the greatest extent possible, EpilepsyDiagnosis.org will stay up to date with all the changes, and the material already reflects the accepted changes.
• The site is organized with an overview, followed by sections on seizure classification, epilepsy syndromes, epilepsy etiologies, and mimickers of epilepsy.  
• Each section is accompanied, where applicable, by helpful videos. 
• There is an easy sign-up process that allows you to view the videos. 
• The site also provides EEG and MRI examples where appropriate.
• The site suggests potential mimickers, provides tips on differential diagnosis, and describes related syndromes. For example, if you select the tab for structural causes of epilepsy, you will find sections on malformations of cortical development, vascular malformations, hippocampal sclerosis, hypoxic-ischemic injury, traumatic brain injury, tumors, and porencephalic cysts.
• Each section has discussion on associated syndromes and seizure types, EEG, imaging, genetics (if known), and differential diagnosis. 

The information is very comprehensive and will be useful to epileptologists (neurologists who specialize in epilepsy), neurologists, other health care providers, people living with epilepsy, and caregivers of someone with epilepsy.

This website will be useful to learn more about epilepsy diagnosis, for teaching, and for keeping up with changes in ILAE classifications. It should not be used to diagnose your own epilepsy or a loved one's. It is not intended to take the place of an evaluation by a health care professional trained in epilepsy care. 

We urge our community to go to the site and try it out.