title: The influence of concurrent anticonvulsants on the efficacy of the ketogenic diet.
abstract: It is unknown if any particular anticonvulsants modify the likelihood of seizure reduction when used in combination with the ketogenic diet (KD). A retrospective study was performed of 217 consecutive children who started the KD from 2000-2007. Patients included did not have any changes to their anticonvulsant dose. Efficacy data at 3 months on the KD were analyzed with respect to the six most frequently used anticonvulsants in this cohort. A total of 115 patients were included. Children receiving phenobarbital in combination with the KD were significantly less likely to have a >50% seizure reduction (p = 0.003). Conversely, those receiving zonisamide in combination with the KD at onset were more likely to have a >50% reduction (p = 0.04). These results provide practical information to clinicians who are treating children receiving both the KD and anticonvulsants.
authors.affiliation: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287-1000, USA.
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Paula L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pyzik
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamdy
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants