Project description:The current review highlights the evidence supporting the use of ketogenic diets in the management of drug-resistant epilepsy and status epilepticus in adults. Ketogenic diet variants are compared and advantages and potential side effects of diet therapy are discussed.
Project description:Globally, drug-resistant epilepsy affects one third of people living with epilepsy. With limitations in treatment options for refractory epilepsy in resource-limited regions, ketogenic diet therapy is an important option to consider. Utilizing the 2015 International League Against Epilepsy recommended minimum requirements for ketogenic diet therapy, three male children with refractory epilepsy, aged 2.5, 6.5 and 10 years, were initiated on the classical ketogenic diet using locally available food in August 2017 at University Teaching Hospitals-Children's Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, through partnership with the Epilepsy Program at Boston Children's Hospital in the United States. Following successful initiation in all three children, the diet was discontinued in the 10-year-old due to difficulties complying with the diet. The youngest child demonstrated an over 50% seizure reduction and gained developmental milestones. The third child achieved seizure freedom and showed marked improvement in behaviour. This pilot demonstrates the feasibility of ketogenic diet as an important therapeutic option for refractory epilepsy in Zambia. Given the limitations in treatment choices and medication accessibility, dietary therapy offers an alternative management strategy in our setting. Collaboration with an established ketogenic diet centre contributes to a successful program.
Project description:ObjectiveTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare disease with a high risk of epilepsy and cognitive impairment in children. Ketogenic diet (KD) therapy has been consistently reported to be beneficial to TSC patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of KD in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy and cognitive impairment in children with TSC.MethodsIn this multicenter study, 53 children (33 males and 20 females) with drug-resistant epilepsy or cognitive impairment caused by TSC were retrospectively recruited from 10 hospitals from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Intention-to-treat analysis was used to evaluate seizure reduction and cognition improvement as outcomes after KD therapy.ResultsOf the 53 TSC patients included, 51 failed to be seizure-free with an average of 5.0 (range, 4-6) different anti-seizure medications (ASMs), before KD therapy. Although the other two patients achieved seizure freedom before KD, they still showed psychomotor development delay and electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the KD therapy, 51 (100%), 46 (90.2%), 35 (68.6%), and 16 patients (31.4%) remained on the diet therapy, respectively. At these time points, there were 26 (51.0%), 24 (47.1%), 22 (43.1%) and 13 patients (25.5%) having ≥50% reductions in seizure, including 11 (21.6%), 12 (23.5%), 9 (17.6%) and 3 patients (5.9%) achieving seizure freedom. In addition, of 51 patients with psychomotor retardation, 36 (36 of 51, 70.6%) showed cognitive and behavioral improvements. During the KD therapy, no serious side effects occurred in any patient. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal disturbance (20 of 53, 37.7%) and hyperlipidemia (6 of 53, 11.3%). The side effects were gradually relieved after adjustment of the ketogenic ratio and symptomatic treatment.ConclusionKD is an effective and safe treatment for TSC-related drug-resistant epilepsy and cognitive impairment in children. KD can reduce seizure frequency and may potentially improve cognition and behavior.
Project description:ObjectiveTo examine the potential influence of a ketogenic diet on serum concentrations of antiseizure medications (ASMs) in children with drug resistant epilepsy.MethodsWe investigated the serum concentrations of ASMs in 25 children with drug resistant epilepsy, 2-13 years of age, treated with a classical ketogenic diet for 12 weeks. The patients were recruited from the National Centre for Epilepsy from August 15th, 2017, to January 24th, 2022. Changes in ASM serum concentrations were analyzed using a mixed effect model analysis. Significance level was set at P < 0.05 for all comparisons.ResultsThe participants used 12 different ASMs during the study. The mean number of ASMs was 2.4 (±SD 0.7). None of the participants changed the type or dose of the ASMs during the intervention period. The serum concentrations of clobazam (n = 9, P = 0.002), desmethylclobazam (n = 9, P = 0.010), and lamotrigine (n = 6, P = 0.016) decreased significantly during the dietary treatment. The analytes with the largest reduction in serum concentration after 12 weeks of dietary treatment were clobazam (mean change -38%) and desmethylclobazam (mean change -37%). We found no significant change in the serum concentrations of levetiracetam, topiramate, and valproic acid.SignificanceWe identified a significant decrease in the serum concentrations of clobazam, desmethylclobazam, and lamotrigine following a 12-week ketogenic diet intervention in children with drug resistant epilepsy. An unintended decrease in the serum concentrations of ASMs may render the patient prone to seizures. Measurements of ASM serum concentrations might be useful in patients on a ketogenic diet, especially in patients with lack of efficacy of the dietary treatment.
Project description:ObjectiveWith the exception of specific metabolic disorders, predictors of response to ketogenic dietary therapies (KDTs) are unknown. We aimed to determine whether common variation across the genome influences the response to KDT for epilepsy.MethodsWe genotyped individuals who were negative for glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome or other metabolic disorders, who received KDT for epilepsy. Genotyping was performed with the Infinium HumanOmniExpressExome Beadchip. Hospital records were used to obtain demographic and clinical data. KDT response (≥50% seizure reduction) at 3-month follow-up was used to dissect out nonresponders and responders. We then performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in nonresponders vs responders, using a linear mixed model and correcting for population stratification. Variants with minor allele frequency <0.05 and those that did not pass quality control filtering were excluded.ResultsAfter quality control filtering, the GWAS of 112 nonresponders vs 123 responders revealed an association locus at 6p25.1, 61 kb upstream of CDYL (rs12204701, P = 3.83 × 10-8 , odds ratio [A] = 13.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.07-44.8). Although analysis of regional linkage disequilibrium around rs12204701 did not strengthen the likelihood of CDYL being the candidate gene, additional bioinformatic analyses suggest it is the most likely candidate.SignificanceCDYL deficiency has been shown to disrupt neuronal migration and to influence susceptibility to epilepsy in mice. Further exploration with a larger replication cohort is warranted to clarify whether CDYL is the causal gene underlying the association signal.
Project description:ObjectiveBiochemical assessment is recommended for patients prior to initiating and following a ketogenic diet (KD). There is no published literature regarding current practice in the UK and Ireland. We aimed to explore practice in comparison with international guidelines, determine approximate costs of biochemical testing in KD patients across the UK and Ireland, and promote greater consistency in KD services nationally.MethodsA survey was designed to determine the biochemical tests requested for patients at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months + on KD. The survey was circulated to 39 centers across the UK and Ireland.ResultsSixteen centers completed the survey. Full blood count, electrolytes, calcium, liver function tests (LFTs), lipid profile, and vitamin D were requested at all centers at baseline, in keeping with international guidelines. Bicarbonate, total protein, and urinalysis were less consistently requested. Magnesium and zinc were requested by all centers, despite not being specifically recommended for pre-diet evaluation in guidelines. Urea and electrolyte profiles and some LFTs were consistently requested at follow-up, in accordance with guidelines. Other LFTs and renal tests, full blood count, lipid profile, acylcarnitine profile, selenium, vitamin D, and urinalysis were less consistently requested at follow-up. The mean costs of the lowest and highest number of tests requested at baseline in our participating centers were £167.54 and £501.93; the mean costs of the lowest and highest number of tests requested at 3-month follow-up were £19.17 and £450.06.SignificanceBiochemical monitoring of KD patients varies widely across the UK and Ireland and does not fully correspond to international best practice guidelines. With an ongoing drive for cost-effectiveness within health care, further work is needed to streamline practice while ensuring patient safety.
Project description:More than one-third of people with epilepsy develop drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of DRE. Accumulating evidence suggests the contribution of neuroinflammation, modifications in the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and altered immune responses in the pathophysiology of DRE. The inflammatory response is mainly due to the increase of cytokines and related molecules; these molecules have neuromodulatory effects that contribute to hyperexcitability in neural networks that cause seizure generation. Some patients with DRE display the presence of autoantibodies in the serum and mainly cerebrospinal fluid. These patients are refractory to the different treatments with standard antiseizure medications (ASMs), and they could be responding well to immunomodulatory therapies. This observation emphasizes that the etiopathogenesis of DRE is involved with immunology responses and associated long-term events and chronic inflammation processes. Furthermore, multiple studies have shown that functional polymorphisms as risk factors are involved in inflammation processes. Several relevant polymorphisms could be considered risk factors involved in inflammation-related DRE such as receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). All these evidences sustained the hypothesis that the chronic inflammation process is associated with the DRE. However, the effect of the chronic inflammation process should be investigated in further clinical studies to promote the development of novel therapeutics useful in treatment of DRE.
Project description:Combining a ketogenic diet with standard chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic options may help improve tumor response, although more research is needed.
Project description:The current review highlights the evidence supporting the use of ketogenic diet therapies in the management of a growing number of neurological disorders in adults. An overview of the scientific literature supporting posited mechanisms of therapeutic efficacy is presented including effects on neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and neuro-inflammation. The clinical evidence supporting ketogenic diet use in the management of adult epilepsy, malignant glioma, Alzheimer's disease, migraine headache, motor neuron disease, and other neurologic disorders is highlighted and reviewed. Lastly, common adverse effects of ketogenic therapy in adults, including gastrointestinal symptoms, weight loss, and transient dyslipidemia are discussed.