The ketogenic diet for super refractory status epilepticus

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Someone who has persistent seizures that last more than 24 hours, despite treatment, is in super refractory status epilepticus, or SRSE. The condition is rare, but often results in death or disability.

Bringing someone out of SRSE usually involves treatment with anti-seizure medications and anesthetics, but other therapies are beginning to gain attention. One of those therapies is the ketogenic diet. This high-fat diet has been used to treat some cases of epilepsy for more than 100 years.

A recent paper in Neurology Clinical Practice offers practical considerations for the use of the ketogenic diet in patients with super-refractory status epilepticus. ILAE spoke with two of the paper’s authors – dietitian Neha Kaul and epileptologist Joshua Laing.

For guidance on providing the ketogenic diet, contact Neha Kaul.

Read the paper: Practical Considerations for Ketogenic Diet in Adults With Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus | Neurology Clinical Practice 

More about the ketogenic diet as epilepsy treatment (ILAE Epigraph article).

Sharp Waves content is meant for informational purposes only and not as medical or clinical advice. The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sharp Waves episodes are meant for informational purposes only, and not as clinical or medical advice.

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The International League Against Epilepsy is the world's preeminent association of health professionals and scientists, working toward a world where no person's life is limited by epilepsy. Visit us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.