The clinical efficacy and follow-up study of ketogenic diet adding treatment for refractor epilepsy in children / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the clinical efficacy and follow-up study of ketogenic diet adding treatment for refractor epilepsy in children.Methods Cluster sampling method was employed to select children in children's hospital from January 2015 to June 2017,a total of 25 cases were diagnosed refractor epilepsy and adding ketogenic diet.Engel grade was used to evaluate the efficiency,the side effects,electroencephalogram (EEG) changes and intellectual development at 3 months,3-6 months,and more than 6 months.Results The effective rate of epileptic seizure control was 0,66.7％ and 87.5％ at 3 months,3 -6 months and ＞ 6 months respectively.The improvement rate of EEG discharge index was 33.3％,50％ and 81.3％ respectively.The improvement of intelligence development was 33.3％,50％ and 68.8％ respectively.Gastrointestinal disturbances were the main side effects.Severe side effect occurred in two cases--they had severe food refusal and were stopped the ketogenic diet adding treament.Conclusions The ketogenic diet is effective,safe,few side effects and tolerable in infants and children with refractory epilepsy.The ketogenic diet may improve cognition and behavior in addition to reducing seizure frequency,the interical epileptiform discharges (IED) index and improve the quality of life of epileptic children.However,the acceptance of ketogenic diet therapy for children is not satisfactory.The sample size is small and needs further promotion.While large samples and long-term observations are still desired to better recipes,and to provide possibly effective altemative to other therapies for refractor epilepsy.