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[Therapeutic effect of ketogenic diet for refractory epilepsy in children: a prospective observational study]
Deng-Na Zhu1, Meng-Meng Xie, Jun-Hui Wang
1Rehabilitation Center for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Henan Province, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. zhudengna@126.com.
Insights
The ketogenic diet (KD) is safe and effective for children with refractory epilepsy, significantly reducing seizure frequency and improving EEG and cognitive function. This dietary therapy shows promising results for pediatric epilepsy management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Metabolic Therapies
- Epileptology
Background:
- Refractory epilepsy in children poses significant management challenges.
- Dietary interventions like the ketogenic diet (KD) are explored for treatment-resistant cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the ketogenic diet (KD) in pediatric refractory epilepsy.
- To assess changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns and cognitive development during KD therapy.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 20 pediatric patients (7-61 months) with refractory epilepsy underwent KD therapy for at least 3 months.
- Seizure frequency, type, and degree were monitored, alongside 24-hour video-EEG and Gesell Developmental Scale assessments at baseline and follow-up intervals (3, 6, 9 months).
Main Results:
- 30% of patients achieved complete seizure freedom, and 65% experienced seizure frequency reduction.
- Improvements were observed in EEG (40% of patients) and cognitive function, particularly gross motor and adaptability (30% of patients).
- Reported side effects associated with KD therapy were mild.
Conclusions:
- Ketogenic diet (KD) therapy demonstrates safety and efficacy in pediatric refractory epilepsy.
- KD is effective in reducing seizure frequency and improving EEG and cognitive outcomes in this population.
Objective:
To study the clinical efficiency, electroencephalogram (EEG) changes and cognitive improvements of ketogenic diet (KD) in children with refractory epilepsy.
Methods:
Twenty pediatric patients (7-61 months in age) with refractory epilepsy were recruited between August 2012 and August 2013. KD therapy was performed on all participants for at least 3 months based on a fasting initiation protocol with the lipid-to-nonlipid ratio being gradually increased to 4 : 1. Seizure frequency, type and degree were recorded before and during KD therapy. A 24 hours video-electroencephalogram (V-EEG) examination and Gesell Developmental Scale assessment were performed prior to KD therapy, and 3, 6, 9 months after KD therapy.
Results:
Six patients became seizure free after KD therapy, with a complete control rate of 30%. Seizure frequency reduction occurred in 13 (65%) patients, EEG improvement in 8 (40%) patients, and improvement in Gesell Developmental Scales (gross motor and adaptability in particular) in 6 (30%) patients. The KD therapy-related side effects were mild.
Conclusions:
KD therapy is safety and effective in reducing seizure frequency and improving EEG and cognitive function in children with refractory epilepsy.
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