Study of Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE) cases for Segregation Analysis.

ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurring seizures. A seizure is a paroxysmal and transitory disturbance of brain function that develops suddenly and terminates spontaneously. We studied 247 Idiopathic Generalised Epilepsy (IGE) cases referred to the Neurology Department of Nizam 's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad for genetic basis and also associations with certain genetic, biochemical and epidemiological factors to understand the mechanism of the onset and progression of the disease. Of the 247 cases studied 42.91% showed positive family history for IGE and also genetic heterogeneity with the possibility of segregation of the condition following autosomal dominant, recessive and sex linked inheritance. We made an attempt to estimate the segregation frequencies to determine the mode of inheritance in the families ascertained.