The electroencephalographic evolution of a group of patients on a ketonic diet

INTRODUCTION: A ketogenic diet is an old method for the treatment of resistant epilepsy in children, which has been revived in recent years because of its proven efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To correlate electroencephalographic findings and clinical changes observed in a group of patients on the classical ketogenic diet, to determine the validity of the electroencephalogram in following-up treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We made a prospective evaluation of 11 patients aged between 1 and 19 years for an average period of 22 months. The patients had different types of resistant epilepsy according to Schmidt's score as modified by Aicardi, with a sleep encephalogram prior to treatment and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months later, after following the protocol of the classical ketogenic diet. RESULTS: The sleep encephalograph recordings showed changes in all patients. In 9% of cases they became normal, there was great improvement in 45.45% and some improvement in 45.45%. No patient had worsening of the recording. There was over 50% reduction in the number of seizures seen in 72.7% of the children and complete control was achieved in 27.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Normalization or improvement of sleep encephalogram recordings was correlated with improvement in seizures. Electroenchephalogram follow-up is a useful method for prediction of response to treatment with a ketogenic diet.