Objective      To investigate the interictal brain function in patients with drug refractory epilepsy (DRE) in resting state with blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI).       Methods      A total of 36 DRE outpatients in our center of epilepsy during March 2010 to June 2011 were subjected in this study. Another health volunteers served as normal control. Data of fMRI in all subjects were calculated and compared using the method of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF). The correlation between ALFF and disease duration was analyzed.       Results      DRE showed significantly strengthened ALFF in midbrain

pons

caudate

inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral parahippocampalgyrus

hippocampus compared with normal controls. Weakened ALFF were found in bilateral frontal lobe

right superior temporal gyrus

anterior cingutate and precuneus. A correlation analysis of ALFF at each voxel in the whole brain against the disease duration in DRE revealed a significantly negative correlation in right middle temporal gyrus (r=-0.71

P0.05).       Conclusion      The brain function is widespread abnormalities in DRE compared with the normal controls

which may be related with the course of disease.