title: [National consensus on the ketogenic diet].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy is a chronic disease with onset in infancy affecting 0.5-1% of the population. One third of the patients is refractory to antiepileptic drugs and they pose a challenge for the health care team. The ketogenic diet is an effective, non-pharmacological, alternative treatment for the management of refractory epilepsy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  There is a need to establish guidelines for the adequate and increased use of the ketogenic diet in Spanish-speaking countries. The National Committee on the Ketogenic Diet, consisting of paediatric neurologists, clinical nutritionists, and dietitians, of the Argentine Society of Child Neurology has developed this consensus statement to standardize the use of the ketogenic diet based on the literature and clinical experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient selection, pre-treatment family counseling, drug interactions, micronutrient supplementation, adverse effects, and discontinuation of the diet are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ketogenic diet is an effective treatment for children with refractory epilepsy. Education and collaboration of the patient and their family is essential. The patient should be managed by an experienced multidisciplinary team using a protocol. The formation of a national multidisciplinary team and the publication of this document provide possibilities for new centers to integrate the ketogenic diet into their treatment options.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armeno
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Pediatria SAMIC. Prof. Dr. J.P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caraballo
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaccarezza
authors.forename: M Julia
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galicchio
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: de Grandis
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mestre
authors.forename: Nidia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Escobal
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matarrese
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viollaz
authors.forename: Ariela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostinho
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cresta
authors.forename: Analía
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Hilario
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gambarini
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouquet
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caramuta
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guisande
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gamboni
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Argumedo
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dlugoszewski
authors.forename: Martha G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: DeMartini
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Panico
mesh_terms: D055423:Diet, Ketogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D018579:Patient Selection