Uso de Dieta Cetogénica en Epilepsia Resistente a Farmacoterapia

Abstract

Epilepsy is a well-studied multifactorial disease. There are subgroups of patients in whom classical antiepileptic pharmacological therapy does not provide adequate control, approximately 30%. Some of these patients could benefit from surgical intervention as a cure for their disease. Ketogenic diet may be used as a palliative treatment option in a patient in which control with anti-seizure medications has not been achieved. This option consists of a diet rich in fat and proteins and carbohydrates in a lower rate. There are different subtypes of ketogenic diets, with different levels of restrictiveness. Selecting one depends on the objectives and the patient-health system-medical staff relationship. Up to 50% of affected subjects have experienced a significant reduction in seizures. Most adverse effects are short term and predictable, so these do not have a significant weight in treatment abandonment. In the other hand for long-term effects, further studies are required since there is no conclusive evidence in this regard.