Short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis. Comparison with auditory and visual evoked...

Short-latency somatosensory potentials after median nerve stimulation were recorded in 17 patients with clinically definite cases of multiple sclerosis and in 15 patients with probable, possible, or suspected cases. Abnormalities, usually prolongation of component wave latencies, were found in 20 patients, often with normal clinicaly sensory testing. Abnormalities in brief auditory evoked potentials were found less often but were significantly more frequent in the group with clinically definite cases. Pattern evoked visual potentials may have been more useful in identifying early cases. The recording of all three evoked potentials showed an abnormality of at least one in most patients.