Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Public Health 2251-6085 47 1 2017 12 31 40 48 Jinming JI Dept. of Neurology, Binzhou People’s Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China Gang LI Dept. of Neurology, Binzhou City Center Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China Yunxia MA Dept. of Neurology, Binzhou City Center Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China Shuangshuang PAN Dept. of Neurology, Binzhou City Center Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China Rongrong YUAN Dept. of Neurology, Binzhou City Center Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China 2017 12 31 2017 12 31 Background: We aimed to investigate the expression levels of multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in peripheral blood of patients with refractory epilepsy. Methods: Patients with epilepsy (n=24) and those with refractory epilepsy (n=24) were selected, and 30 normal volunteers were enrolled as control. The expression level of MDR1 genes was detected using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression levels of P-gp and MRP1 were detected via Western blotting. The above-mentioned patients with refractory epilepsy were randomly divided into the oxcarbazepine group (OB group) and placebo group (OZ group). After consecutive 8-week oral administration of drugs, the curative effect and adverse reactions of patients with refractory epilepsy were observed, and the life quality of patients was evaluated. Results: The expression levels of MDR1 genes, P-gp and MRP1 in peripheral blood of patients with refractory epilepsy were significantly increased compared with those of patients with epilepsy, (P<0.05). At 8 weeks after the drug therapy, the effective rate and life quality of patients in OB group were significantly higher than those of patients in OZ group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence rate of adverse reactions during the treatment between the two groups. After treatment, the expression levels of MDR1, P-gp and MRP1 in peripheral blood of patients in OB group were significantly lower than those of patients in OZ group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Oxacillipine could effectively improve the effective treatment rate of patients with refractory epilepsy. The mechanism may be related to MDR1, MRP1 and Pgp expression.       https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/view/12044 https://ijph.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijph/article/download/12044/5869