[The role of evoked potentials in neurological clinical practice]

The author provides an overview on the value of evoked potential (EP) methods (VEP, SEP, BAEP, MEP) in the diagnosis and follow-up of various neurological diseases (multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disorders, degenerative diseases, coma, epilepsy, migraine) by reviewing the literature supported by his own clinical experience. While in the past EP was mainly used for establishing the diagnosis, recently, with the expansion of neuroradiology, it has gained a wider use in the assessment of the severity and extent of the pathologic process and especially in longitudinal follow-up. Its role in the diagnostic phase has diminished. In patients with multiple sclerosis the abnormality of the evoked potentials correlate better with the clinical state than with the MRI results. The method is also suitable to monitor the response to therapy. The importance of the EP tests is illustrated by several case demonstrations.