Abstracts

Rationale: To study whether the antiepileptic effect of the ketogenic diet has any correlation with the level of beta-hydroxybuterate achieved at different times. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review study over a four year period in a tertiary child neurology center. 72 patients (38 females and 34 males) on the ketogenic diet were studied. Age at initiation of diet is (0.16- 17.9 years, mean age 5.56). Data was collected on seizure outcome and quality of life (QOL) after 3 months and 6 months of being on the diet. This data was analyzed for relationship with the levels of ?-HOB at the same time intervals. Results: After 3 months of being on the ketogenic diet, 23 out of 33 patients (70%) had >50% seizure reduction, 5 patients (15%) had <50% seizure reduction and the remaining 5 patients experienced no change. There was no statistical difference in the ?-HOB values between the groups (p=0.486). At 6 months interval, 21 of 26 patients (81%) had >50% seizure reduction, whereas 5 patients had <50% seizure reduction. Again, ?-HOB levels did not differ between the two groups (p=0.239). QOL improved in 24 (72%) patients at 3 months. This did correlate with a significant difference of ?-HOB levels (p=0.329). This finding was replicated at 6 months visit where 17 (66%) patients reported improvement of QOL versus 9 patients had no improvement; the difference of ?-HOB values was insignificant (p=0.672). Conclusions: In patients treated with the ketogenic diet, there is no correlation between seizure control or quality of life and serum levels of beta-hydroxybuterate.