Education Review Articles

The articles below, "Seminars in Epileptology," are educational peer-reviewed articles published in Epileptic Disorders that specifically address the competencies and learning objectives of the ILAE curriculum.

The aetiologies of epilepsy
Simona Balestrini, Alexis Arzimanoglou, Ingmar Blümcke, Ingrid E Scheffer, Samuel Wiebe, Johan Zelano, Matthew C Walker.
Epileptic Disorders, 2021;23(1):1-16. doi:10.1684/epd.2021.1255
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives addressed by this article:
1.1.1 Describe the major aetiologies for epilepsy (i.e. structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, immune, and neurodegenerative).
1.1.2 Describe the common structural aetiologies (e.g. hippocampal sclerosis, tumours, malformations, vascular lesions, traumatic brain injury, etc.).
1.1.3 Describe the common genetic causes of epilepsy (e.g. monogenic or polygenic inheritance, germline or somatic mutations).
1.1.4 Describe the common infectious causes of epilepsy, including geographical impacts (e.g. bacterial, fungal, viral, parasites).
1.1.5 Describe the common metabolic causes of epilepsy (e.g. inborn errors of metabolism, glucose transport defects, pyridoxine dependent seizures, mitochondrial pathologies).
1.1.6 Describe the common immune causes of epilepsy (e.g. Rasmussen encephalitis, LGI1 antibodies, NMDA antibodies, etc.).
1.1.7 Describe the common neurodegenerative causes of epilepsy (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Down syndrome, progressive myoclonic epilepsies).

Identifying patients with epilepsy at high risk of cardiac death: signs, risk factors and initial management of high risk of cardiac death.
Rainer Surges, Sharon Shmuely, Christoph Dietze, Philippe Ryvlin, Roland D. Thijs
Epileptic Disorders. 2021;23(1):17-39. doi:10.1684/epd.2021.1254
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives addressed by this article:
1.8.4 Recognize the typical semiology and risk profile associated with syncope
1.9.1 Identify patients at high risk of cardiac death: recognize semiology, risk factors and initial management of high risk of cardiac death

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies
Sharika Raga, Nicola Specchio, Sylvain Rheims, Jo M Wilmshurst
Epileptic Disorders. 2021;23(1):40-52. doi:10.1684/epd.2021.1244
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives addressed by this article:
1.7.2 Correctly distinguish between focal and generalized epilepsies and recognize epileptic encephalopathies

How to distinguish seizures from non-epileptic manifestations
Annette Leibetseder, Monika Eisermann, W. Curt LaFrance Jr, Lino Nobili, Tim J. von Oertzen
Epileptic Disorders, 2020 Dec 20. doi: 10.1684/epd.2020.1234
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives addressed by this article:
1.3.1 Learn and recognize the seizure semiology and distinguish it from other non-epileptic manifestations

Electroencephalography: basic biophysical and technological aspects important for clinical applications
Sándor Beniczky, Donald L. Schomer
Epileptic Disorders, 2020 Dec 20. doi: 10.1684/epd.2020.1217
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives addressed by this article:
1.4.2 Demonstrate knowledge on how to conduct EEG recordings, including technical requirements
1.4.3 Demonstrate knowledge of montages - advantages and disadvantages
1.4.4 Interpret topographic (voltage) maps
1.4.5 Recognize the indications for the different types of provocation methods
1.4.6 Recognize the different types of EEG recordings and methodologies

How to understand and address the cultural aspects and consequences of diagnosis of epilepsy, including stigma
Patricia Braga, Hassan Hosny, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Flora Rider, Manjari Tripathi, Alla Guekht
Epileptic Disorders, 2020 Oct 20. doi: 10.1684/epd.2020.1201. Online ahead of print
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
2.10.1. Understand and address the culturally appropriate aspects and consequences of the diagnosis of epilepsy, including stigma (Level 1)

Women's issues
Ravish Keni, Barbara Mostacci, Gordana Kiteva-Trenchevska, Laura Licchetta, Liljana Ignjatova, Sanjeev Thomas, Kimford J. Meador
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 22, issue 4, August 2020
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives addressed by this article:
2.6 Counsel women of childbearing age about the implications and management of epilepsy
2.6.2 Provide guidance regarding pregnancy, including teratogenicity of the various antiepileptic drugs
2.6.3 Provide guidance regarding post-partum and child care

Living safely with epilepsy a key learning review
Andrés Bertinat, Mike Kerr, Joyce A. Cramer, Patricia Braga
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 22, issue 4, August 2020
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
2.2.3 Provide guidance regarding safety issues related to seizures

Testing blood and CSF in people with epilepsy: a practical guide
Fiona Sutton, Diana Barca, Ilia Komoltsev, Dana Craiu, Alla Guekht, Tim von Oertzen, Hannah R. Cock
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 22, issue 4, August 2020
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
1.6 Decide which patients should receive lab tests and which types of tests should be ordered

How to diagnose and classify idiopathic (genetic) generalized epilepsies
Ayse Deniz Elmali, Stéphane Auvin, Thomas Bast, Guido Rubboli, Michalis Koutroumanidis
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 22, issue 4, August 2020
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
1.7.4 Correctly diagnose and classify generalized epilepsies

MRI essentials in epileptology: a review from the ILAE Imaging Taskforce
Irene Wang, Andrea Bernasconi, Boris Bernhardt, Hal Blumenfeld, Fernando Cendes, Yotin Chinvarun,
Graeme Jackson, Victoria Morgan, Stefan Rampp, Anna Elisabetta Vaudano, Paolo Federico
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 22, issue 4, August 2020
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives addressed by this article:
1.5.1 Recognize the spectrum of MRI sequences optimized for epilepsy
1.5.2 Decide on whom to perform structural neuroimaging
1.5.3 Decide when to conduct neuroimaging and repeat as needed Level 2
1.5.4 Decide when to conduct specialized neuroimaging and which type (e.g. functional, metabolic, post-processing, etc.)
1.5.5 Interpret and apply the results of specialized neuroimaging accurately in the clinical context
4.3.2 Recommend functional neuroimaging as appropriate

The role of EEG in patients with suspected epilepsy
Selim R. Benbadis, Sándor Beniczky, Edward Bertram, Stephanie MacIver, Solomon L. Moshé
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 22, issue 2, April 2020
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
1.4.1 Determine whom should receive EEGs, be familiar with sensitivity and specificity, and how to interpret the report in the clinical context (Level 1)

Epilepsy and cannabidiol: a guide to treatment
Alexis Arzimanoglou, Ulrich Brandl, J Helen Cross, Antonio Gil-Nagel, Lieven Lagae, Cecilie Johannessen Landmark, Nicola Specchio, Rima Nabbout, Elizabeth A Thiele, Oliver Gubbay and other members of The Cannabinoids International Experts Panel
Volume 22, issue 1, February 2020
This article does not address any ILAE Curriculum Learning Objectives

The importance of semiological information based on epileptic seizure history.
Peter Wolf, Selim Benbadis, Petia S. Dimova, Kollencheri Puthenveettil Vinayan, Rosa Michaelis, Markus Reuber, Elza Márcia Yacubian
Volume 22, issue 1, February 2020
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
1.3.2 Extract semiology information from patient history (L1)

The aetiology of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: risk factors and comorbidities
Stoyan Popkirov, Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, Roderick Duncan, David Gigineishvili, Coraline Hingray, Andres Miguel Kanner, W. Curt LaFrance Jr, Chrisma Pretorius, Markus Reuber on behalf of the ILAE PNES Task Force
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 21, issue 6, December 2019
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
1.8.1 Describe the epidemiology, psychiatric and experiential risk factors of PNES (L1)

Management of epilepsy in pregnancy: a report from the International League Against Epilepsy Task Force on Women and Pregnancy
Torbjörn Tomson, Dina Battino, Rebecca Bromley, Silvia Kochen, Kimford Meador, Page Pennell, Sanjeev V. Thomas
Epileptic Disorders, Vol. 21, issue 6, December 2019
ILAE Curriculum Learning Objective addressed by this article:
2.8.2 Identify and provide counseling on issues related to drug interactions (L2)