[Experience with ketogenic diet as treatment for refractory epilepsy].
BACKGROUND
Epilepsy is a disease where most patients have a good control with pharmacological antiepileptic treatment. Nevertheless, 25% of the patients have a refractory epilepsy to usual antiepileptic drugs. Ketogenic diet is one of the treatment options for this type of epilepsy. In spite of the increased popularity of it as an antiepileptic treatment, it does not exist an international consensus of its indications and management.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the response, tolerance and adverse effects of the patients with refractory epilepsy at our hospital during the last 20 years.


METHODS
We reviewed the data of 30 patients with ketogenic diet and the follow-up at the Neurology and Nutrition Services in our Hospital.


RESULTS
Ten patients (35.7%) had a positive response with reduction of their seizures for more than six months; five of them had a 50-75% decrease in seizures and five of them had more than 75% of seizure reduction. The most common short term adverse effects were diarrhea, vomiting and hypoglicemia whereas long term adverse effects were constipation and weight gain.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend to use ketogenic diet as treatment in refractory epilepsy since there is a positive response in seizure control in some cases. The adverse effects seen could be prevented or treated without complications. It is a preferable treatment option before using other aggressive therapeutical measures or when surgery is not feasible.
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Espana.
Alia
A
Ramírez-Camacho
Silvia
S
Meavilla
Natalia
N
Catalán
Alejandra
A
Gutiérrez
Jaume
J
Campistol
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic / Q000009:adverse effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male