U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

Generalized myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure

MedGen UID:
1714496
•Concept ID:
C5397802
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Generalised myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure; Generalised onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure; generalised onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure; Generalised-onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure; Generalized onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic epileptic seizure; generalized onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure; Generalized-onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic epileptic seizure; Generalized-onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure
SNOMED CT: Generalized myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure (1208973006); Generalized onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic epileptic seizure (1208973006); Generalized-onset myoclonic-tonic-clonic epileptic seizure (1208973006)
 
HPO: HP:0032795

Definition

A generalized myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure is a type of generalized motor seizure characterized by a single or multiple jerks of limbs bilaterally, followed by tonic and clonic phases. The initial jerks can be considered to be either a brief period of clonus or myoclonus. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVGeneralized myoclonic-tonic-clonic seizure

Professional guidelines

PubMed

ILAE definition of the Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy Syndromes: Position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions.
Hirsch E, French J, Scheffer IE, Bogacz A, Alsaadi T, Sperling MR, Abdulla F, Zuberi SM, Trinka E, Specchio N, Somerville E, Samia P, Riney K, Nabbout R, Jain S, Wilmshurst JM, Auvin S, Wiebe S, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Tinuper P, Wirrell EC
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1475-1499. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17236. PMID: 35503716
Pharmacotherapeutic management of epilepsy in MERRF syndrome.
Finsterer J
Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019 Jul;20(10):1289-1297. Epub 2019 May 7 doi: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1609941. PMID: 31063406
Levetiracetam treatment of idiopathic generalised epilepsy.
Krauss GL, Betts T, Abou-Khalil B, Gergey G, Yarrow H, Miller A
Seizure 2003 Dec;12(8):617-20. doi: 10.1016/s1059-1311(03)00139-0. PMID: 14630506

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Prognostic significance of clinical seizures after cardiac arrest and target temperature management.
Lybeck A, Friberg H, Aneman A, Hassager C, Horn J, Kjærgaard J, Kuiper M, Nielsen N, Ullén S, Wise MP, Westhall E, Cronberg T; TTM-trial Investigators
Resuscitation 2017 May;114:146-151. Epub 2017 Feb 3 doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.01.017. PMID: 28163232
Evolution of hemiplegic attacks and epileptic seizures in alternating hemiplegia of childhood.
Saito Y, Inui T, Sakakibara T, Sugai K, Sakuma H, Sasaki M
Epilepsy Res 2010 Aug;90(3):248-58. Epub 2010 Jun 26 doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2010.05.013. PMID: 20580529
A detailed analysis of symptomatic posterior cortex seizure semiology in children younger than seven years.
Fogarasi A, Boesebeck F, Tuxhorn I
Epilepsia 2003 Jan;44(1):89-96. doi: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2003.18302.x. PMID: 12581235
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: long-term response to therapy.
Penry JK, Dean JC, Riela AR
Epilepsia 1989;30 Suppl 4:S19-23; discussion S24-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1989.tb05833.x. PMID: 2506007

Diagnosis

ILAE definition of the Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy Syndromes: Position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions.
Hirsch E, French J, Scheffer IE, Bogacz A, Alsaadi T, Sperling MR, Abdulla F, Zuberi SM, Trinka E, Specchio N, Somerville E, Samia P, Riney K, Nabbout R, Jain S, Wilmshurst JM, Auvin S, Wiebe S, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Tinuper P, Wirrell EC
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1475-1499. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17236. PMID: 35503716
The electroclinical features of idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients presenting with fixation-off sensitivity.
Wang X, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Shen C, Jin L, Chen B, Jiang Z, Tao JX, Liu Y
Epileptic Disord 2018 Dec 1;20(6):479-489. doi: 10.1684/epd.2018.1021. PMID: 30530446
Operational classification of seizure types by the International League Against Epilepsy: Position Paper of the ILAE Commission for Classification and Terminology.
Fisher RS, Cross JH, French JA, Higurashi N, Hirsch E, Jansen FE, Lagae L, Moshé SL, Peltola J, Roulet Perez E, Scheffer IE, Zuberi SM
Epilepsia 2017 Apr;58(4):522-530. Epub 2017 Mar 8 doi: 10.1111/epi.13670. PMID: 28276060
Nonepileptic disorders imitating generalized idiopathic epilepsies.
Fejerman N
Epilepsia 2005;46 Suppl 9:80-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2005.00317.x. PMID: 16302879
Semiological seizure classification.
Lüders H, Acharya J, Baumgartner C, Benbadis S, Bleasel A, Burgess R, Dinner DS, Ebner A, Foldvary N, Geller E, Hamer H, Holthausen H, Kotagal P, Morris H, Meencke HJ, Noachtar S, Rosenow F, Sakamoto A, Steinhoff BJ, Tuxhorn I, Wyllie E
Epilepsia 1998 Sep;39(9):1006-13. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1998.tb01452.x. PMID: 9738682

Therapy

Moving beyond sodium valproate: choosing the right anti-epileptic drug in children.
Balagura G, Iapadre G, Verrotti A, Striano P
Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019 Aug;20(12):1449-1456. Epub 2019 May 17 doi: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1617850. PMID: 31099271
Pharmacotherapeutic management of epilepsy in MERRF syndrome.
Finsterer J
Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019 Jul;20(10):1289-1297. Epub 2019 May 7 doi: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1609941. PMID: 31063406
Prognostic significance of clinical seizures after cardiac arrest and target temperature management.
Lybeck A, Friberg H, Aneman A, Hassager C, Horn J, Kjærgaard J, Kuiper M, Nielsen N, Ullén S, Wise MP, Westhall E, Cronberg T; TTM-trial Investigators
Resuscitation 2017 May;114:146-151. Epub 2017 Feb 3 doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.01.017. PMID: 28163232
Levetiracetam treatment of idiopathic generalised epilepsy.
Krauss GL, Betts T, Abou-Khalil B, Gergey G, Yarrow H, Miller A
Seizure 2003 Dec;12(8):617-20. doi: 10.1016/s1059-1311(03)00139-0. PMID: 14630506
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: long-term response to therapy.
Penry JK, Dean JC, Riela AR
Epilepsia 1989;30 Suppl 4:S19-23; discussion S24-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1989.tb05833.x. PMID: 2506007

Prognosis

ILAE definition of the Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy Syndromes: Position statement by the ILAE Task Force on Nosology and Definitions.
Hirsch E, French J, Scheffer IE, Bogacz A, Alsaadi T, Sperling MR, Abdulla F, Zuberi SM, Trinka E, Specchio N, Somerville E, Samia P, Riney K, Nabbout R, Jain S, Wilmshurst JM, Auvin S, Wiebe S, Perucca E, Moshé SL, Tinuper P, Wirrell EC
Epilepsia 2022 Jun;63(6):1475-1499. Epub 2022 May 3 doi: 10.1111/epi.17236. PMID: 35503716
Prognostic significance of clinical seizures after cardiac arrest and target temperature management.
Lybeck A, Friberg H, Aneman A, Hassager C, Horn J, Kjærgaard J, Kuiper M, Nielsen N, Ullén S, Wise MP, Westhall E, Cronberg T; TTM-trial Investigators
Resuscitation 2017 May;114:146-151. Epub 2017 Feb 3 doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.01.017. PMID: 28163232
Clinical and electrophysiological features of epilepsy in Italian patients with CLN8 mutations.
Striano P, Specchio N, Biancheri R, Cannelli N, Simonati A, Cassandrini D, Rossi A, Bruno C, Fusco L, Gaggero R, Vigevano F, Bertini E, Zara F, Santorelli FM, Striano S
Epilepsy Behav 2007 Feb;10(1):187-91. Epub 2006 Nov 28 doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.10.009. PMID: 17129765
A detailed analysis of symptomatic posterior cortex seizure semiology in children younger than seven years.
Fogarasi A, Boesebeck F, Tuxhorn I
Epilepsia 2003 Jan;44(1):89-96. doi: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2003.18302.x. PMID: 12581235
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: long-term response to therapy.
Penry JK, Dean JC, Riela AR
Epilepsia 1989;30 Suppl 4:S19-23; discussion S24-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1989.tb05833.x. PMID: 2506007

Clinical prediction guides

Pharmacotherapeutic management of epilepsy in MERRF syndrome.
Finsterer J
Expert Opin Pharmacother 2019 Jul;20(10):1289-1297. Epub 2019 May 7 doi: 10.1080/14656566.2019.1609941. PMID: 31063406
The electroclinical features of idiopathic generalized epilepsy patients presenting with fixation-off sensitivity.
Wang X, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Shen C, Jin L, Chen B, Jiang Z, Tao JX, Liu Y
Epileptic Disord 2018 Dec 1;20(6):479-489. doi: 10.1684/epd.2018.1021. PMID: 30530446
Prognostic significance of clinical seizures after cardiac arrest and target temperature management.
Lybeck A, Friberg H, Aneman A, Hassager C, Horn J, Kjærgaard J, Kuiper M, Nielsen N, Ullén S, Wise MP, Westhall E, Cronberg T; TTM-trial Investigators
Resuscitation 2017 May;114:146-151. Epub 2017 Feb 3 doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2017.01.017. PMID: 28163232
Clinical and electrophysiological features of epilepsy in Italian patients with CLN8 mutations.
Striano P, Specchio N, Biancheri R, Cannelli N, Simonati A, Cassandrini D, Rossi A, Bruno C, Fusco L, Gaggero R, Vigevano F, Bertini E, Zara F, Santorelli FM, Striano S
Epilepsy Behav 2007 Feb;10(1):187-91. Epub 2006 Nov 28 doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2006.10.009. PMID: 17129765
A detailed analysis of symptomatic posterior cortex seizure semiology in children younger than seven years.
Fogarasi A, Boesebeck F, Tuxhorn I
Epilepsia 2003 Jan;44(1):89-96. doi: 10.1046/j.1528-1157.2003.18302.x. PMID: 12581235

Supplemental Content

Table of contents

    Clinical resources

    Practice guidelines

    • PubMed
      See practice and clinical guidelines in PubMed. The search results may include broader topics and may not capture all published guidelines. See the FAQ for details.

    Consumer resources

    Reviews

    Related information

    • PubMed
      Related literature resources in PubMed

    Recent activity

    Clear Turn Off Turn On

    Your browsing activity is empty.

    Activity recording is turned off.

    Turn recording back on

    See more...