[The role of evoked potentials in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis]

Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is based mainly upon evidence of inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid and of diffuse neurological involvement. The second feature is often lacking at onset. It is important to establish the diagnosis as early as possible. In this respect, evoked potentials (visual, auditive or somatosensory) in the brainstem are useful to demonstrate asymptomatic lesions. Our recordings taken in 43 patients are conclusive. The diagnostic reliability of simultaneous recordings of all three types of evoked potentials is similar to that of the study of cerebrospinal fluid.