[Auditory evoked brain stem potentials and ischemic pathology of the vertebrobasilar system]

Brain stem auditory evoked potentials in subjects with transient ischemic attacks of the vertebro-basilar system and a high "vascular index" (based on clinical and paraclinical criteria) show an abnormal elevation of the intervals I-III, III-V and I-V compared to the values obtained in normal subjects under the same conditions. In subjects with functional signs of vertebro-basilar ischemic attacks without an abnormal "vascular index", the intervals I-III and I-V are slightly raised, however the interval III-V is not significantly modified. These results stress the value of recording early auditory evoked potentials in the objective evaluation of transient ischemic attacks of the vertebro-basilar system.