Plain language summary
Ketogenic diets (KD) have shown favourable effects on childhood epilepsy. However, these is reluctance to use these as a form of treatment because of the possible adverse impact on the growing child. This study compared short (8 months) and long term (24 months) KD on infantile spasms. 40 children aged between 6 and 60 months who had achieved seizure free outcomes within 6 months of a KD were randomly assigned to to short (16 patients) and long term (19 patients) trial groups. The children completed a KD with a 3:1 ratio of fat to non-fat and also took multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D2 and L-carnitine. The study measured seizure relapse and frequency after the KD. Adverse effects most commonly experienced by the children during the KD included gastrointestinal disturbances (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation), and elevated lipids. Growth failure only occurred in the group who maintained the KD long term (7 out of 19). The authors concluded that a KD for 8 months in children with infantile spasms appears justified; it has the benefit of less growth disturbances but similar spasm-free outcomes compared to longer term durations.
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare the prognoses between short-term (8 months) and conventional long-term (> 2 years) trials involving patients with refractory infantile spasms who successfully completed the ketogenic diet (KD). METHODS Of 40 patients who achieved seizure-free outcomes and showed improvement in hypsarrhythmic patterns within 6 months of the KD, with a 3:1 fat to nonfat ratio as an add-on treatment, 16 patients were randomized into the short-term trial group and the diet was tapered throughout two additional months. Twenty-four patients were randomized into a long-term trial group, and 19 patients could successfully discontinue the diet after 2 years. Primary outcome measures included seizure relapse and frequency of 35 patients for > 12 months after successful completion of the KD. KEY FINDINGS Of 16 patients in the short-term trial group, two patients relapsed with clusters of spasms, and one patient had recurrence of occasional focal seizures. Of 19 patients in the long-term trial group, two patients progressed to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and one patient experienced recurrence of occasional focal seizures with secondary generalization. An early response to the KD, evidenced by short latency before seizure freedom and disappearance of hypsarrythmia and cryptogenic etiology, may indicate a successful early discontinuation of the KD. Significant growth failure was complicated only in conventional long-term trial group. SIGNIFICANCE Use of the KD for only 8 months in children who become spasm-free appears to be justified, with similar outcomes, recurrence rate, and less growth disturbance than a longer-term, traditional use.
Methodological quality
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