Effect of treating helicobacter pylori infection on seizure frequency in patients with refractory epilepsy

Background: The main purpose of the current study was todetermine the effect of treating helicobacter pylori (HP)infection on seizure frequency in patients with refractoryepilepsy.Methods: A small sample of adult patients above 18 years ofage with a diagnosis of refractory epilepsy was studied atthe outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of MedicalSciences, from January 2009 through June 2011. If and whenurea breath test result was positive, an upper endoscopywith multiple gastric biopsies was requested. Rapid ureasetest and histopathology examination were performed. Forpatients with confirmed HP infection, treatment withclarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole was ordered fortwo weeks. Seizure frequency was recorded before and afterHP treatment.Results: Nine patients were recruited. Using Wilcoxonsigned ranks test, seizure frequency did not differsignificantly after HP treatment compared to the periodbefore treatment (P = 0.6).Conclusion: Treating HP infection in patients withrefractory epilepsy did not significantly change the seizurefrequency.