Gut Microbiota and new onset epilepsy; Hospital based study

Tony, Abeer; Abu Elhassan, Sheraz Galal; Sadek, Ahmed; El-Nakeeb, Islam; Amin, Mohamed M.

doi:10.21608/mid.2025.362555.2561

Gut Microbiota and new onset epilepsy; Hospital based study

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Neuropsychiatric department, Faculty n Medicine, Aswan University, Egypt

² Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Aswan university, Egypt

³ Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assuit university, Egypt

⁴ Department of clinical pathology, Faculty of Medicine , Aswan University , Egypt

10.21608/mid.2025.362555.2561

Abstract

Background: The severe neurological condition known as epilepsy is typified by frequent, spontaneous seizures. According to new research, the course of epilepsy and the efficacy of treatment are two neurological disorders that may be impacted by the gut microbiota. Objective: This study investigates the correlation between intestinal microbiota composition and epilepsy, examining its impact on disease progression, seizure recurrence, and response to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted on 40 newly diagnosed epileptic patients and 20 healthy controls. Stool samples were collected at baseline and after six months of AED treatment. The microbiota composition, including Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, and E. coli, was analyzed using qPCR. Results: There were notable changes in the gut microbiota composition of normal and epileptic patients. Prior to treatment, the prevalence of E. coli was higher in epileptic patients, but Bacteroidetes and Bifidobacterium were lower. In these situations, the amount of Clostridium was significantly lower. Drug-sensitive (DS) patients maintained their beneficial microbiota after therapy, but drug-resistant (DR) patients showed no Bacteroidetes or Bifidobacterium at all. There was a clear association between the composition of the microbiota and the response to treatment. Conclusion: The composition of the gut microbiota seems to affect the course of epilepsy and the responsiveness to AEDs. The lack of helpful bacteria in DR patients raises the possibility that microbiota-targeted treatments could help manage epilepsy better.

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