What is the Difference Between Idiopathic and Cryptogenic Epilepsy

The key difference between idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy is that idiopathic epilepsy is an inherited type of epilepsy, while cryptogenic epilepsy is a type of epilepsy with an unknown etiology.

Epilepsy is a diverse group of neurological disorders characterized by the occurrence of recurrent seizures. It is a neurological disorder related to the central nervous system. In this condition, brain activity becomes abnormal, causing unusual behavior, seizures, and loss of awareness. Epilepsy is common to both males and females of all ages. Factors such as brain trauma, strokes, gene mutations, brain cancer, and extensive use of drugs and alcohol lead to epilepsy. Seizures during this disorder usually occur due to the release of glutamate, which causes an excitation throughout the brain. This propagates an electrical signal and eventually leads to neuronal death.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Idiopathic Epilepsy
3. What is Cryptogenic Epilepsy
4. Similarities – Idiopathic and Cryptogenic Epilepsy
5. Idiopathic vs Cryptogenic Epilepsy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Idiopathic vs Cryptogenic Epilepsy

What is Idiopathic Epilepsy?

Idiopathic epilepsy is an epileptic disorder with a strong genetic influence. Patients with idiopathic epilepsy have no structural brain abnormalities. This disorder may often arise with a family history of epilepsy or may have a genetically predisposed risk of seizures. Idiopathic epilepsy is common between early childhood and adolescence; however, in some situations, it is diagnosed later. There are different types of idiopathic epilepsies. They are benign myoclonic epilepsy in infancy, generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus, epilepsy with myoclonic absences, epilepsy with myoclonic-astatic seizures, childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures only.

Benign myoclonic epilepsy in infancy is very rare. Children with this disorder indicate with head drops and arm jerks. Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures and influence many other syndromes, which share causative agents. Epilepsy with myoclonic absences shows myoclonic jerks several times a day. Epilepsy with myoclonic-astatic seizures that is known as Doose syndrome also shows myoclonic jerks along with loss of muscle tone. This is a polygenic disorder. Childhood absence epilepsy occurs between the ages of four and eight with periods of unconsciousness. Juvenile absence epilepsy is similar to childhood absence epilepsy but is characterized by less frequent but longer periods of unconsciousness. Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is known as ‘Janzsyndrome’ and is a common form of epilepsy. It shows prominent myoclonic seizures in the morning. Epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures only is present at any age. This disorder only shows tonic-clonic seizures.

What is Cryptogenic Epilepsy?

Cryptogenic epilepsy is a type of epilepsy with an unknown cause or etiology. This form of epilepsy is hard to diagnose and causes several complications. Treatment options for cryptogenic epilepsy are difficult due to the unknown etiology and could cause repetition of the disease within a short period. It is the most common form of the disease in adults. Cryptogenic epilepsy is not associated with a prior trauma to the central nervous system. It has widespread brain damage, especially during an injury or at birth. Several neurological disorders such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy occur along with this disorder.

Symptoms of cryptogenic epilepsy include temporary confusion, stiff muscles, uncontrollable jerking movements of arms and legs, loss of consciousness and awareness, seizures, etc. Symptoms vary according to the type of seizure. It is advisable to receive treatment immediately with the onset of symptoms or any of the following conditions. They are seizures of more than five minutes, an immediate follow-up second seizure, high fever, pregnancy, injury during seizure, diabetes, no effect of anti-seizure medication.

What are the Similarities Between Idiopathic and Cryptogenic Epilepsy?

• Idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy are neurological disorders.
• Both affect the normal functioning of the brain.
• Moreover, they lead to the development of seizures.
• Both types of epilepsies occur in both males and females.
• Both disease types are common to any age, race, or ethnic background.

What is the Difference Between Idiopathic and Cryptogenic Epilepsy?

The key difference between idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy is that idiopathic epilepsy is an inherited type of epilepsy, while cryptogenic epilepsy is a type of epilepsy with an unknown etiology. Provoked seizures can be observed in idiopathic epilepsy, while unprovoked seizures are observed in cryptogenic epilepsy. Diagnosis of idiopathic epilepsy is easier than the diagnosis of cryptogenic epilepsy.

The below infographic presents the differences between idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Idiopathic vs Cryptogenic Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a diverse group of neurological disorders that are characterized by the occurrence of recurrent seizures. It is a neurological disorder related to the central nervous system. The key difference between idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy is that idiopathic epilepsy is an inherited type of epilepsy, while cryptogenic epilepsy is a type of epilepsy with unknown etiology. Idiopathic epilepsy consists of a known etiology with a strong genetic influence. Cryptogenic epilepsy consists of an unknown etiology with no genetic influence. Both are neurological disorders and affect the normal functioning of the brain. Seizures are the characteristic symptom of both types of epilepsy. So, this summarizes the difference between idiopathic and cryptogenic epilepsy.

Reference:

1. Eissa Ibrahim AlEissa, MD. “First Adult Seizure.” Background, Etiology, Epidemiology, Medscape, 22 July 2021.
2. “Epilepsy.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 7 Oct. 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Depiction of neural activity during a seizure” By Myupchar (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Hippocampus facts” By Gtr2798 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia