The current state of the genetics of epilepsy

The genetic nature of some forms of epilepsy has been suspected since antiquity. Lundborg and Unverricht's contributions laid the foundations of the genetic cause of these conditions when describing that progressive myoclonic epilepsy shows a hereditary pattern. Some years ago, Metrakos and Metrakos claimed the existence of three types of genes that would play a role in the appearance of epilepsies. In the last years, and thanks to the advances in genetics, the genes responsible of several types of epilepsy have been located, so confirming the hereditary nature of some forms, mainly generalized epilepsies but also some partial types. This fact has given rise to better knowledge of human epileptogenesis, with consequences in diagnosis, genetic counselling, treatment, and prevention of these diseases [REV NEUROL 1997; 25 (Supl 4): S339-49].