title: Is there a role for diet monotherapy in adult epilepsy?
abstract: Ten adults were treated with ketogenic diet monotherapy for epilepsy. Four patients were naïve to antiseizure drugs (ASDs), and six previously tried and stopped ASDs. Of four treatment-naïve participants, two (50%) were free from disabling seizures on Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) monotherapy for > 1 year. Two (50%) stopped. Four of six patients (67%) who had previously tried ASDs became seizure-free on diet monotherapy, and two experienced > 50% seizure reduction. Side effects included amenorrhea, weight loss, osteoporosis, and hyperlipidemia. Diet monotherapy may be feasible, well-tolerated, and effective for adults with epilepsy who refuse pharmacotherapy and those for whom lifelong diet therapy is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 2-147, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Mackenzie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cervenka
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Bobbie J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Henry-Barron
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 2-147, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Suite 2158, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
keywords: Adult; Epilepsy; Ketogenic; Modified Atkins Diet; Monotherapy; Seizure