EAN 2021 | Defining rare and complex epilepsy syndromes

Eugen Trinka, MD, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria, discusses how rare and complex epilepsy syndromes are defined and outlines the need for appropriate cause-dependent treatment. Prof. Trinka emphasizes that epilepsy can no longer be seen as a single disease, but a heterogeneous group of diseases which must be managed on an individual basis. Genetic alterations are a prominent cause of rare and complex epilepsies, but immune-mediated epilepsies are also seen. Prof. Trinka highlights that for optimal disease management, the epilepsies must be seen as separate and treated according to their cause. This interview took place during the European Academy of Neurology 2021 congress.