Ketogenic diet: a therapeutic alternative in pediatric refractory epilepsies

Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of KD on refractory epilepsies particularly in children. It requires the cohesion of the medical team and the intensive participation of parents. The regimen is significantly effective for different types of epilepsy that are resistant to medical treatment. It can also be used as a first-line treatment, given its good tolerance. It is being started in children but work on its use in adults shows hope. There is no international or national protocol, the implementation of this diet follows a rigor that is specific to each ketogenic center. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms is imperfect, it would make it possible to optimize the clinical use of the ketogenic diet, but also to develop new antiepileptic treatments. This article reviews the different variants of KD and their prescription terms in children with intractable epilepsy.