Genetic Testing for Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by unprovoked seizures. It is a heterogenous condition that encompasses many different types of seizures and that varies in age of onset and severity. The common epilepsies, also called idiopathic epilepsy, are thought to have a complex, multifactorial genetic basis. There are also numerous rare epileptic syndromes that occur in infancy or early childhood and that may be caused by a single gene mutation. Genetic testing is commercially available for a large number of genetic mutations that may be related to epilepsy.