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Evoked potential studies in neurological disorders.
Proceedings of the Australian Association of Neurologists
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS) can be improved using pattern reversal visual evoked response and spinal somatosensory evoked response tests. These methods detect sub-clinical sensory pathway abnormalities in suspected MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis relies on identifying neurological deficits.
- Sub-clinical abnormalities in sensory pathways can precede overt symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of visual and somatosensory evoked responses in diagnosing neurological disorders.
- To assess the effectiveness of these techniques in detecting sub-clinical sensory pathway dysfunction in suspected MS.
Main Methods:
- Developed and applied on-line computer techniques (PDP 11/40) for recording evoked responses.
- Utilized pattern reversal visual evoked response and spinal somatosensory evoked response.
- Applied techniques to patients with suspected MS, other visual pathway lesions, epilepsy, and functional deficits.
Main Results:
- Pattern reversal visual evoked response and spinal somatosensory evoked response yielded consistent results.
- Abnormal responses were detected in a significant number of suspected MS patients, even without clinical signs.
- These techniques identified sub-clinical abnormalities in visual and somatosensory pathways.
Conclusions:
- Pattern reversal visual evoked response and spinal somatosensory evoked response are valuable tools for detecting sensory pathway abnormalities.
- These electrophysiological methods play a complementary role in the early detection of suspected MS.
- The techniques aid in identifying sub-clinical conduction deficits in sensory pathways.