[Long-latency reflexes and somatosensory potentials studied in patients with disseminated sclerosis]

To determine diagnostic significance of long-latency reflexes in multiple sclerosis, reflexes of the thenar muscles and somatosensory evoked potentials after median or radial superficial nerve stimulation were investigated in 36 patients with definite and suspected diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and 30 matched subjects of control group. The results of the investigation have shown a delay or absence of R2 response to be the most frequent finding. Abnormal R2 response was recorded in 77%, somatosensory evoked potentials in 57% of all the examinees. It is concluded that long-latency reflexes may have high diagnostic value in patients with multiple sclerosis.