[Ketogenic diet for intractable epilepsy in children and adolescents: report of six cases].
BACKGROUND
This study aims to report on use of the ketogenic diet in a group of six children and adolescents with intractable epilepsy.


METHODS
Authors reviewed the medical records of every patient under 15 years of age who received the ketogenic diet between April 1999 and July 2003. A comparison is made between treatment results, adverse events and beneficial effects with the pertinent medical literature.


RESULTS
The ketogenic diet was administered to six patients, whose median age was 7.0 years (range, 1.8-12.2). Average duration of diet application was of 9.7 months (range, 7 days-4 years). A reduction equal to or greater than 50% in seizure frequency was observed in half of the cases. Complications included neutropenia, constipation, dehydration, priapism, and seizure recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
The ketogenic diet was effective and safe in three out of six patients with intractable epilepsy. Neutropenia was the most common complication.
Vasconcelos
Marcio M
MM
Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. mmvascon@centroin.com.br
Azevedo
Patricia M Couto
PM
Esteves
Lívia
L
Brito
Adriana R
AR
Olivaes
Maria Cecílea D de
MC
Herdy
Gesmar V Haddad
GV
D017668:Age of Onset; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002149:Energy Intake; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D007657:Ketone Bodies