Non-clinical tests for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Liquoral, Neurophysiological and Nuclear Imaging data were investigated in 29 patients suffering from Definite (11 cases), Probable (11 cases) and Possible (7 cases) Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The most sensitive tests were: Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs), altered in 75% of patients, Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs), abnormal in 75%, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in 72.4%. Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) were altered in 69.2% in PN-SEPs and in 53.6% in MN-SEPs, whilst Brainstem Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) were altered in 30.8% of cases. The results suggest that patients with suspected forms of MS should be submitted, as routine diagnostic protocol, to a battery of EPs, including as a first choice VEPs, MEPs and PN-SEPs. MRI should be performed to confirm a diagnosis not supported by EP data, or for a comprehensive localization of the demyelinating plaques.