Cortical somatosensory evoked potentials following median and tibial nerve stimulation in multiple sclerosis; relation to sensory disorders and duration of the disease
Bräu, H.; Stölzel, R.; Baum, K.
Eeg-Emg Zeitschrift für Elektroenzephalographie Elektromyographie und verwandte Gebiete 18(2): 92-96
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7590 PMID: 3111834 Document Number: 298477
In 40 patients with multiple sclerosis, 11 of whom presented with their first disease manifestation, cortical somatosensory evoked potentials following median and tibial nerve stimulation were examined. 45 percent of the patients with first manifestation had at least one pathological SEP, while 79 percent of the patients with longer course of the illness showed pathological SEPs. The group of patients with first manifestation differs significantly in this aspect from the group of those patients with longer duration of the illness. The occurrence of pathological SEPs was associated significantly more often with impairment of joint position and vibration sense, than with nonspecific sensory disturbances. Not only in some patients with first manifestation, but also in some patients with long, but mild courses, there were nonspecific sensory disturbances in association with normal SEPs. One should not underestimate the complaints in such cases.