This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rubenstein, J. E. Articles by Freeman, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rubenstein, J. E. Articles by Freeman, J. M. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Experience in the Use of the Ketogenic Diet as Early Therapy

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, jrubens2{at}jhmi.edu.

Eric H. Kossoff, MD

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD

Paula L. Pyzik, BS

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD

Eileen P. G. Vining, MD

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD

Jane R. McGrogan, RD

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD

John M. Freeman, MD

Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD

The ketogenic diet has traditionally been considered an anticonvulsant therapy of last resort, despite excellent efficacy and limited side effects. We hypothesized that the ketogenic diet would have similar results in patients with new-onset epilepsy. A retrospective study was conducted of patients started on the ketogenic diet since 1994. Thirteen of 460 (2.8%) patients were started on the ketogenic diet as early (zero or one prior anticonvulsant) therapy for seizures. Of those remaining on the diet, 60% (6 of 10) had a > 90% seizure reduction at 6 months and 100% (6 of 6) had a > 90% reduction at 12 months. Patients with infantile spasms were as likely to achieve > 50% seizure reduction at 6 months as patients with other seizure types (75% vs 60%; P = .6). The ketogenic diet can be a valuable therapy before epilepsy becomes intractable. In the 13 patients reported, efficacy without side effects was achieved similarly to that with patients with intractable epilepsy. (J Child Neurol 2005;20:31—34).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. S. Mastriani, V. C. Williams, T. C. Hulsey, J. W. Wheless, and B. L. Maria Evidence-Based Versus Reported Epilepsy Management Practices J Child Neurol, May 1, 2008; 23(5): 507 - 514. [Abstract] [PDF]