Long-term outcome and tolerability of ketogenic diet treatment for refractory epilepsies in children –A tertiary centre Malaysian experience
- Author:
Teik-Beng Khoo
;
Siti Mariam binti Tukimin
;
Sharifah Mariam binti Syed Zainal Abidin
;
Jaan-Jiar Lai
;
Noor Adzha binti Yusoof
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Ketogenic Diet;
Epilepsy
- From:Neurology Asia
2016;21(1):17-21
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy, retention rate and tolerability of ketogenic diet treatment
(KD) for children with medically refractory epilepsies from a single tertiary centre in Malaysia.
Methods: Children who were treated with ketogenic diet since 2006 and had at least 2 years follow up
after initiation of the KD were evaluated retrospectively using intention-to-treat principle. Response is
defined at seizure reduction of > 50%. Efficacy was assessed as percentage of patients who had seizure
reduction by >50%, >90% and seizure freedom and retention rate was the proportion of patients who
remained on ketogenic diet. Result: A total of thirty children were included. The median duration of
treatment was 8 months (range: 7 days to 6 years). Retention rates at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months were 80%,
70%, 50% and 40% and responder rates were 70%, 63%, 47% and 37% respectively. The common
adverse effects were constipation (43%), hunger (23%), excessive weight gain or loss (20%), vomiting
(10%), hyperuricaemia(30%), hypocalcaemia (20%) and renal calculi (13%). The common reasons
for stopping were because the diet was too restrictive (33%), infrequent seizure or seizure freedom
(23%), not effective (17%) but none was due to the adverse effects.
Conclusion: Ketogenic diet treatment is effective and well-tolerated by Malaysian children in general.
- Full text:P020160404591911456412.pdf
