The value of brain stem auditory, visual and somatosensory evoked potentials and blink reflexes in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Cervical and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) following electrical stimulation of the median nerve and blink reflexes (BR) following electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve were recorded in 30 normal [human] subjects aged 20-49 yr. Subjects aged 40-49 had longer SEP latencies than subjects aged 20-39 yr. Slightly affected patients (29) with multiple sclerosis (MS) aged 26-49, including 4 patients without clinical signs (suspected MS) and 19 patients with signs indicating only 1 lesion (possible MS), were examined by low-rate random-stimulated brain stem auditory (BAEP), checkerboard pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEP), SEP and BR. Abnormal recordings by at least 1 of the examinations were found in all but 3 patients, and by 4 tests in 5 patients. In patients with definite or probable MS, demonstration of clinically recognized or subclinical lesions was of minor diagnostic value in contrast to the importance such findings had in patients with suspected or possible MS. Silent lesions were shown by at least 1 of the tests in the 4 suspected, and in 13 of the possible MS patients; thus these 17 patients could be transferred to a more certain diagnostic category. This reclassification was most often due to the BAEP recording. In patients with spinal signs, the combination of BAEP and VEP recording was sufficiently efficient. In patients with optic neuritis, a combination of BAEP and SEP was preferred. No abnormal recordings were found in 15 normal subjects examined by the 4 tests.