A generalized seizure disorder characterized by recurrent major motor seizures. The initial brief tonic phase is marked by trunk flexion followed by diffuse extension of the trunk and extremities. The clonic phase features rhythmic flexor contractions of the trunk and limbs, pupillary dilation, elevations of blood pressure and pulse, urinary incontinence, and tongue biting. This is followed by a profound state of depressed consciousness (post-ictal state) which gradually improves over minutes to hours. The disorder may be cryptogenic, familial, or symptomatic (caused by an identified disease process). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p329)
Also Known As:
Epilepsy, Tonic Clonic; Major Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic; Convulsions, Grand Mal; Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Cryptogenic; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Familial; Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic, Symptomatic; Familial Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy; Seizure Disorder, Grand Mal; Seizure Disorder, Major Motor; Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy; Tonic Clonic Convulsions; Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Disorder; Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Syndrome; Tonic-Clonic Seizure Disorder; Tonic-Clonic Seizure Syndrome; Convulsion Disorder, Tonic-Clonic; Convulsion Disorders, Tonic-Clonic; Convulsion Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic; Convulsion Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic; Convulsion, Grand Mal; Convulsion, Tonic Clonic; Convulsions, Tonic Clonic; Cryptogenic Tonic Clonic Epilepsy; Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies; Disorder, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion; Disorder, Tonic-Clonic Seizure; Disorders, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion; Disorders, Tonic-Clonic Seizure; Epilepsies, Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic; Epilepsies, Familial Tonic-Clonic; Epilepsies, Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic; Epilepsies, Tonic-Clonic; Epilepsy, Cryptogenic Tonic-Clonic; Epilepsy, Familial Tonic-Clonic; Epilepsy, Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic; Familial Tonic Clonic Epilepsy; Familial Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies; Grand Mal Convulsion; Grand Mal Convulsions; Grand Mal Epilepsy; Major Epilepsies; Seizure Disorder, Tonic-Clonic; Seizure Disorders, Tonic-Clonic; Seizure Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic; Seizure Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic; Symptomatic Tonic Clonic Epilepsy; Symptomatic Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies; Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion; Syndrome, Tonic-Clonic Seizure; Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic Convulsion; Syndromes, Tonic-Clonic Seizure; Tonic Clonic Convulsion; Tonic Clonic Convulsion Disorder; Tonic Clonic Convulsion Syndrome; Tonic Clonic Seizure Disorder; Tonic Clonic Seizure Syndrome; Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Disorders; Tonic-Clonic Convulsion Syndromes; Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies; Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Cryptogenic; Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Familial; Tonic-Clonic Epilepsies, Symptomatic; Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Cryptogenic; Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Familial; Tonic-Clonic Epilepsy, Symptomatic; Tonic-Clonic Seizure Disorders; Tonic-Clonic Seizure Syndromes; Epilepsy, Grand Mal; Epilepsy, Major; Grand Mal Seizure Disorder; Major Motor Seizure Disorder; Seizure Disorder, Tonic Clonic