Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in early
,
stage of MS and clinically isolated syndrome
ABSTRACT
Background and purpose
Brainstem and cerebellar lesions are common
in clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and early
multiple sclerosis (MS). Many might be subcli-
nical. Testing w10ith vestibular evoked myo-
genic potentials (VEMP) is thought to be a
marker for brainstem dysfonction. The aim of
the study was to test VEMP in early stages of
MS and CIS
Material and methods
Collic and ocular tap-VEMPs in a group of out-
patients with CIS and early MS where compa-
red to age –matched healthy volunteers .75%
of the patients did not have any infratentorial
lesion on MRI and critical examination. Peak
latencies and standardized amplitudes were
measured.
Results and conclusions
Collic and ocular VEMP latencies of the
patients were significantly prolonged compa-
red to healthy volunteers.The standardized
p13n23 amplitude was significantly
enhanced. These findings suggest that VEMP
is a rather sensitive t'est, able to detect subcli-
nical dysfunction or lesions beneath detection
threshold of MRI in patients with early MS and
CIS
Crevits L., Venhoovens J.
Debruyne J.
Departement of neurology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
Introduction and Purpose RESULTS
Brainsterm and cerebellar lesions are common
in early stages of MS and CIS. However, many
of them might be subclinical. Testing with
VEMP is thought to be a marker for brainstem
function. Therefore, we studied VEMP in
patients with early MS and CIS
Methods
Subjects:
20% outpatients with CIS or early MS 75% wit-
hout any infratentorial sign or lesion on clinical
examination and MRI 20 age matched healthy
volunteers
Methods:
Tap-VEMPs: evoked by forehead taps with a
triggered reflex hammer. Registration:over the
middle part of the belly off the sternpcleido-
mastoid muscles (collic VEMP) and over the CONCLUSIONS
middle part of the lower eyelid , on top of the
Collic and ocular VEMP latencies of the
optical edge (ocular VEMP). During the collic patients were significantly prolonged.
VEMP, subjects had to push the chin
downward with a constant pressure. During
These findings suggest that VEMP is a rather
ocular VEMP, subjects had to deviate the eyes sensitive test, able to detect subclinical dys-
25 degrees upward.
function or lesions beneath detection thres-
hold of MRI in patients with early MS and clini-
Measurements cally isolated syndrome..
Peak latencies and standardized amplitudes