title: The ketogenic diet in refractory epilepsy: the experience of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
abstract: The ketogenic diet appears to be effective in reducing seizure frequency in patients with epilepsy refractory to antiepileptic drug therapy. Reported seizure frequencies before and after the diet was initiated were obtained for 48 patients started on the ketogenic diet between December 1994 and January 1998 at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The majority of patients (71%) were able to achieve > or = 50% reduction in seizure activity. Of these, more than half (53%) had > 90% reduction in seizures after 45 days of diet therapy. Complications included gastrointestinal complaints and infrequent lipid abnormalities. The ketogenic diet appears to be an effective method of treatment for children with epilepsy refractory to drug therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Katyal
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McGhee
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Crumrine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001361:Avitaminosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007659:Ketones / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007659:Ketones; D014815:Vitamins