Multimodality evoked potentials and blink reflex in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Thirty patients with definite multiple sclerosis and 50 patients in whom the diagnosis was suspected but not proved (indefinite multiple sclerosis) were studied with visual evoked potentials from each eye, somatosensory evoked potentials from each limb, brainstem auditory evoked potentials from each ear, and the blink reflex. The purpose was to organize a battery of clinically practical tests. The battery found 100% abnormality in the definite patients and 82% in the indefinite patients. Of the individual tests, somatosensory evoked potentials were most often abnormal: 86% in definite patients, 58% in indefinite patients, and 77% in asymptomatic definite patients. Visual evoked potentials were abnormal in 76%, 55%, and 40% of the same three categories. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials and the blink reflex were abnormal less often but contributed to the efficacy of the battery.