Transition of Care for Adolescent and Young Adult Patients on Dietary Therapy for Epilepsy

Abstract

Abstract Ketogenic diets are high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets designed to alter metabolism, induce nutritional ketosis, and reduce seizures in patients with epilepsy. In the past 15 to 20 years, the diets have been refined, gaining momentum in the treatment of resistant epilepsy. As ketogenic diets have gained popularity for treatment of pediatric epilepsies, an increasing number of adolescents treated with dietary therapy are approaching the age of transitioning their care to adult providers. Transition of care for this vulnerable population brings unique challenges posed by a paucity of adult providers who prescribe ketogenic diets, a lack of adult nutritionists trained in dietary therapy for epilepsy, and reluctance of pediatric patients to transition care. In this article, we will discuss the rationale for establishing transition protocols for young adult patients with epilepsy and present guidelines for transition of care for patients treated with dietary therapy for epilepsy.