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Neuropediatrics 2016; 47(03): 157-161
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1582139
Original Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Impact of 3:1 Ketogenic Diet on Cardiac Repolarization Changes in Children with Refractory Seizures: A Prospective Follow-Up Study

Rahmi Özdemir
1   Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Orkide Güzel
2   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Mehmet Küçük
1   Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Cem Karadeniz
1   Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Ünsal Yılmaz
2   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Tansel Calik
3   Department of Pediatrics, Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
,
Timur Meşe
1   Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Izmir Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

03 December 2015

09 February 2016

Publication Date:
04 April 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Background The association between ketogenic diet (KD) and prolonged QT interval, life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death is controversial.

Aim We aimed to prospectively evaluate the effect of KD on electrocardiography (ECG) measures in children with refractory epilepsy.

Method A total of 70 children with drug-resistant epilepsy who received a KD for at least 12 months were included in the study. The standard 12-lead electrocardiography was performed in all patients before the beginning and in the 12th month of KD. Heart rate, P-wave duration and dispersion, corrected QT interval and QT dispersion, and Tp-e interval were measured.

Results All ECG-derived parameters, but P-wave dispersion increased after 12 months of KD compared with the baseline values. However, these changes were not statistically significant.

Conclusion A 12-month long 3:1 KD treatment exerts no deleterious effect on cardiac repolarization measures.

Keywords

ketogenic diet - children - electrocardiography - cardiac repolarization - T peak–T end interval
 

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