Helicobacter pylori infection in epileptic patients

Abstract

It is well known that there might be an epidemiological association between Helicobacter pylori infection and extraintestinal diseases. This study aimed at determining H. pylori infection in epileptic patients. Forty-seven cryptogenic epileptic patients (Group 1) and 35 healthy people (Group 2) participated in this study. Presence of H. pylori infection was examined by H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA), H. pylori IgG, and IgM. HpSA was detected in 21 participants (44.6%) in Group 1 and in 3 participants (8.5%) in Group 2. H. pylori IgM was positive in 27 participants (57.4%) in Group 1 and in 8 participants (22.8%) in Group 2. H. pylori IgG was positive in 37 participants (78.7%) in Group 1 and in 13 participants (38%) in Group 2. The difference of rates of HpSA, H. pylori IgM and IgG in Groups 1 and 2 were found statistically significant (chi2=4.18, p=0.04; chi2=9.18, p=0.0017; chi2=14.58, p<0.001, respectively). We also compared presence of H. pylori infection between the epileptic patients with poor and good prognosis; HpSA positivity was detected in 15 (62.5%) of 24 and 6 (26%) of 23, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (chi2=6.30, p=0.012). H. pylori IgM positivity was detected in 16 (66%) of 24 patients with poor prognosis and 11 (47.8%) of 23 patients with good prognosis (p>0.05). H. pylori IgG positivity was detected in 18 (75%) of 24 patients with poor prognosis and 19 (82.6%) of 23 patients with good prognosis. The differences of H. pylori IgM and IgG positivity rates in epileptic patients with poor and good prognosis were not found statistically significant (p>0.05). These results suggest a probable association between the acute H. pylori infection and epilepsy, especially with poor prognosis.

Multiple sclerosis and seizures: possible role ofHelicobacter pylori

“…Recent studies showed an association between Helicobacter pylori infection ( Hp ‐I) and epilepsy, especially with poor prognosis [2]. Moreover, using histology, the practical gold standard for current Hp ‐I diagnosis, we showed a strong association between Hp ‐I and MS in a Greek cohort [3].…”

Extragastrointestinal manifestations of Helicobacter pylori infection: Facts or myth? A critical review

“…H. pylori infection has also been found to be associated with epilepsy, especially in patients with poor prognosis 73 . However, as this is a small sample study, routine checking for H. pylori is not recommended.…”

Helicobacter pylori: Neurological and Ophthalmological Disorders

“…There is a possible association of H. pylori infection with different seizure disorders 46,47 . Okuda et al investigated the rate of H. pylori infection in patients with epilepsy and seizure disorder 46 .…”

“…Ozturk et al studied the presence of H. pylori infection in seizure patients for the possible trigger effect of seizure via immunological mechanisms 47 . Their findings supported that H pylori infection might trigger epilepsy by immunological mechanisms as shown by other studies before 47 . They proposed that H. pylori stool antigen test can be used to identify active H pylori infections in patients with seizure disorders.…”