Protein-Losing Enteropathy as a Complication of the Ketogenic Diet.
10.3349/ymj.2017.58.4.891
- Author:
Won Kee AHN
1
;
Soyoung PARK
;
Heung Dong KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hdkimmd@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Ketogenic diet;
protein-losing enteropathies;
hypoalbuminemia
- MeSH:
Diarrhea;
Diet Therapy;
Down Syndrome;
Drug Resistant Epilepsy;
Edema;
Endoscopy, Digestive System;
Humans;
Hypoalbuminemia;
Infant;
Infant, Newborn;
Ketogenic Diet*;
Protein-Losing Enteropathies*;
Spasms, Infantile
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2017;58(4):891-893
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The ketogenic diet is an effective treatment for the patients with intractable epilepsy, however, the diet therapy can sometimes be discontinued by complications. Protein–losing enteropathy is a rarely reported serious complication of the ketogenic diet. We present a 16-month-old Down syndrome baby with protein-losing enteropathy during the ketogenic diet as a treatment for West syndrome. He suffered from diarrhea, general edema and hypoalbuminemia which were not controlled by conservative care for over 1 month. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and stool alpha-1 antitrypsin indicated protein-losing enteropathy. Related symptoms were relieved after cessation of the ketogenic diet. Unexplained hypoalbuminemia combined with edema and diarrhea during ketogenic suggests the possibility of protein-losing enteropathy, and proper evaluation is recommended in order to expeditiously detect it and to act accordingly.
