Monday July 3, 200613:30–15:00Poster Session 1Alternative Therapies

¹ A. Pelliccia , ² S. Frediani , and ² T. Frediani , ² S. Lucarelli (   ¹ Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine II, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy ,   ² Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine I, La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy )
Purpose: Rolandic epilepsy is the best known form of idiopathic partial epilepsy and unquestionably the one with the best prognosis. When such treatment does prove necessary, sodium valproate (VPA) or carbamazapine (CBZ) are nearly always used. In view of previous experiences showing the efficacy of an elimination diet for cow milk in cases of partial idiopathic epilepsy, a study was carried out on children with rolandic epilepsy to compare the results of treatment with VPA or CBZ and an elimination diet for proteins of cow milk.
Method: All the patients were subjected to a diagnostic procedure to ascertain allergy to this foodstuff. The diagnosis was confirmed by means of an elimination/ provocation test with the foodstuff in question. The subjects were divided into 3 random groups: group A (17 cases) treated with VPA, group B (17) treated with CBZ, and group C (20) treated with an allergen-free diet.
Results: The children of group A displayed complete remission in 14 cases out of 17 (82.3%). In group B only 6 cases out of 17 (30%) displayed complete remission. The allergen-free made it possible to obtain complete clinical remission in all the children of group C as well as the normalisation of EEG.
Conclusion: The study suggests that while CBZ and VPA are effective drugs with comparatively few undesired effects, an allergen-free diet makes it possible to obtain complete clinical and electroencephalographic remission with no side effects as well as a behavioural improvement in cases where there is valid evidence of hypersensitivity.