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. 2010 Jun;56(6):540-2.

Ketogenic diet for treatment of epilepsy

Affiliations

Ketogenic diet for treatment of epilepsy

Alexander L Rogovik et al. Can Fam Physician. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Question: Families of children with epilepsy now ask about the ketogenic diet at clinic visits. Is it effective and safe to use for treatment of epilepsy?

Answer: The ketogenic diet can be considered an option for children with intractable epilepsy who use multiple antiepileptic drugs. It is a treatment of choice for seizures associated with glucose transporter protein deficiency syndrome (ie, De Vivo disease) and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency. The diet's strictness, unpalatability, and side effects limit its use, adversely affecting patients' compliance and clinical efficacy.

QUESTION Les parents d’enfants souffrant d’épilepsie nous posent maintenant des questions au sujet des régimes cétogènes lors de leurs visites en clinique. Sont-ils efficaces et sûrs dans le traitement de l’épilepsie?

RÉPONSE Un régime cétogène peut être envisagé comme une option pour les enfants atteints d’épilepsie réfractaire qui utilisent de multiples médicaments contre l’épilepsie. C’est un traitement de première intention dans les cas d’épisodes associés au syndrome du déficit de la protéine transporteuse de glucose (p. ex. maladie de De Vivo) et au déficit en complexe pyruvate-déshydrogénase. Le caractère strict de ce régime, son manque de saveur et ses effets secondaires en limitent l’utilisation, et nuisent à l’observance par les patients et à l’efficacité clinique.

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