title: Efficacy of dietary therapy for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
abstract: Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is often successfully managed with anticonvulsants; however, some patients may have medically resistant seizures. The modified Atkins diet (MAD) has been reported as effective for idiopathic generalized epilepsy and is increasingly being used in adolescents and adults. Since 2006, 8 adolescents and adults have been started on the MAD for JME at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Of these 8 patients, 6 (75%) were female, with a mean age at seizure onset of 10.5 years (range: 6-13 years) and 24.3 years (range: 15-44 years) at MAD initiation. After 1 month, 6 (75%) patients had >50% seizure reduction, and after 3 months, 5 (63%) patients had >50% improvement. Several patients found the MAD difficult to adhere to, including 3 patients who reported temporarily increased seizures during periods of noncompliance. In this limited experience, the modified Atkins diet was an efficacious adjunctive therapy for young adults with very medically resistant JME.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. ekossoff@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
authors.forename: Bobbie J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Mackenzie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cervenka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020190:Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants