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Motor Evoked Potential-A Pilot Study Looking at Reliability and Clinical Correlations in Multiple Sclerosis
F H Jacques1, B E Apedaile, I Danis
1Clinique Neuro-Outaouais, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.
Summary
Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) show excellent reliability for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Tibialis anterior MEPs strongly correlate with clinical measures, aiding disease management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomarker Development
- Clinical Neurophysiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents with significant clinical heterogeneity.
- Current MS management lacks biomarkers for subclinical pathological processes.
- Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) show promise as a potential biomarker.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the longitudinal reliability of MEPs in MS patients.
- To determine minimum detectable differences for MEP measurements.
- To explore correlations between MEPs and established clinical scales in MS.
Main Methods:
- A 3-year, single-center study involving 10 alemtuzumab-treated MS patients.
- MEPs were measured twice, two weeks apart, every six months.
- Clinical assessments included the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 25-foot walk, 6-minute walk, and nine-hole peg test.
Main Results:
- MEP parameters demonstrated high reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.76–0.98).
- Tibialis anterior (TA) MEP latency and amplitude strongly correlated with all clinical measures.
- Biceps MEPs showed moderate correlation with the nine-hole peg test.
Conclusions:
- MEPs exhibit excellent intrapatient and intrarater reliability in MS.
- TA MEPs strongly correlate with EDSS, 6-minute walk, and 25-foot walk.
- Biceps MEPs moderately correlate with the nine-hole peg test, suggesting utility in assessing upper limb function.
