Experience of the ketogenic diet therapy of the ketogenic diet team in a third-line children’s hospital

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect and side effects of ketogenic diet in add-on therapy for treatment-refractory epileptic children cohort followed by our ketogenic diet team. Methods: The medical files of 27 patients who were followed up for at least 6 months between March and November 2016 in HSU Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Diseases and Surgery Training and Research Hospital Pediatric Neurology Polyclinic were evaluated retrospectively. After the diseases in which the ketogenic diet was contraindicated were excluded, the consent form was obtained from the families and the diet started after the training. Patients were monitored quarterly by our team for clinical and laboratory findings with regard to efficacy and side effects. Results: A total of 27 patients (male, n=11; 40.7\%, and female, n=16: 59.3\%) aged 11 months to 15 years. participated in the study. The majority had focal seizures and 15 (55.5\%) of them had other types of seizure. Most (77.7\%) of them had symptomatic epilepsy. Retrospective chart review revealed that in 74\%, and 11.1\% of the patients number of seizures experienced decreased >= 50\%, and < 50\%, respectively. While. 14,8\% of them were seizure-free and in 7.4\% of them seizure activity increased. Complications were seen in 37\% of the patients which consisted of hyperlipidemia (14.8\%), urolithiasis (14,8\%) and gastrointestinal disorders (7.4\%). Number of seizures decreased >= 50\%, in 15 of 19 patients aged 0-11 years and in 6 of 8 patients in the 11-15 age group. In 8 (29.6\%) children secondary benefits (in motor, cognitive and speech areas) were derived from ketogenic diet. Conclusion: The results of our study showed that ketogenic diet was an efficacious non-pharmacological therapy for children with drug-resistant epilepsy. These children must be followed regularly by the experienced ketogenic diet team for potential side effects.