[Electromyographic studies of the blink reflex in patients with multiple sclerosis]

The latencies of two components of the blink reflex in 90 patients with multiple sclerosis have been compared with these of 30 healthy subjects. Early response R1 was absent in 33,33% of the patients and was with prolonged latency in 41,11%. The late ipsilateral response was absent in 20,00% of the patients and in 32,22% was with prolonged latency. The late contralateral response was absent in 25,55% of the patients and was with prolonged latency in 40,00%. The latencies of all components of the reflex may be prolonged in patients with no clinical brain-stem signs as well.