The blink reflex and somatosensory evoked potential in optic neuritis in South India

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Abstract
Optic Neuritis (ON) proceeds to multiple sclerosis (MS) in a considerable number of patients. The blink reflex (BR) and somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) are useful non-invasive tests that can detect silent lesions in the CNS in patients with clinically suspect MS. The BR and SSEP were done in 20 healthy controls and 20 patients with ON. Abnormalities of the SSEP were seen in 20% and of the BR in 30% of the patients with ON. On combining the results of SSEP and BR studies, 45% of the ON patients had abnormalities. Over a short period of follow-up, 2 of the 20 ON patients developed clinical MS and both of them had had abnormalties of the BR. Evidently ON proceeding to MS in India may be more common than suspected at present.