Multimodality evoked potentials in myotonic dystrophy

Abstract

Multimodality evoked potentials were performed in 18 patients affected by myotonic dystrophy (8 males and 10 females); the aim was to make an electrophysiological evaluation of the central nervous system involvement in this disease. We observed brainstem, somatosensory and visual evoked potential abnormalities respectively in 53%, 62.5% and 71.4% of cases, with no apparent relationship to the severity of the disease. Our abnormal findings provide further confirmation of CNS involvement in myotonic dystrophy and occur in various combinations suggesting an aspecific involvement at different levels, reflecting the multisystemic character of this disease.