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Evoked potentials in Huntington's disease. A comparative and longitudinal study
Archives of Neurology
|April 1, 1984
Summary
Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) showed decreased amplitude in Huntington
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
Background:
- Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- Neurophysiological markers can aid in understanding disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of evoked potentials in assessing Huntington's disease progression.
- To correlate neurophysiological findings with disease duration and severity.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated pattern-reversal visual (PRVEPs), brain-stem auditory (BAEPs), and somatosensory (SSEPs) evoked potentials in 12 HD patients.
- Repeated assessments in 8 patients over two years.
- Compared results with age-matched controls.
Main Results:
- Mean cortical SSEP amplitude was reduced in HD patients compared to controls.
- A trend of decreasing SSEP amplitude correlated with increased disease duration and severity.
- PRVEPs and BAEPs were normal in HD patients.
- Serial studies revealed a progressive decline in SSEP amplitude over two years.
Conclusions:
- Reduced SSEP amplitude may reflect thalamic involvement in HD.
- SSEPs offer a potential objective method for monitoring HD progression and therapeutic effects.
- Evoked potentials are not currently diagnostic for individual HD cases.