A non-alcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy case with atypical MRI findings: Clinic versus radiology

Wernicke's Encephalopathy is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome that can be seen in both alcohol abusers and non-alcoholic population as a result of thiamine deficiency. We herein report a non-alcoholic patient with typical clinical presentations but atypical MRI findings. Early clinical suspicion of WE is especially important in non-alcoholic patients with atypical MRI findings. The diagnosis of this group is more difficult to make and the prognosis of the syndrome mostly depends on early initiation of thiamine supplementation.

CEREBRAL VENOUS THROMBOSIS AND TURNER SYNDROME: A RARE REPORTED ASSOCIATION

Turner Syndrome is the only known viable chromosomal monosomy, characterised by the complete or partial absence of an X chromosome. It's the most common chromosomal abnormality in females. Apart from the well known dysmorphic features of the syndrome, it has been associated with a number of vascular pathologies; mainly involving the cardiovascular, renovascular, peripheral vascular and cerebrovascular system. It seems striking that thromboembolism is not considered as a feature of the syndrome. Most of the thromboembolism cases are related to the arterial vascular system; except for some rare reported portal venous thrombosis cases, peripheral venous thrombosis cases and to the best of our knowledge a single case of cerebral venous thrombosis with Dandy Walker malformation and polymicrogyria. We herein report a cerebral venous thrombosis case with Turner Syndrome. With no other found underlying etiology, we want to highlight that Turner Syndrome, itself, may have a relationship not only with the cerebral arterial vascular system pathologies but also with the cerebral venous thrombosis.

Is vestibular rehabilitation as effective in bilateral vestibular dysfunction as in unilateral vestibular dysfunction?

BACKGROUND

Bilateral vestibular dysfunction causes serious disabilities and handicaps. Patients with bilateral dysfunction often restrict their activities and tend to be unsocial.

AIM

To compare the effects of vestibular rehabilitation on disability, balance, and postural stability in patients with unilateral and bilateral vestibular dysfunction.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Outpatient rehabilitation center.

POPULATION

Patients with unilateral (group 1, N.=42) and bilateral vestibular dysfunction (group 2, N.=19).

METHODS

All patients were evaluated before and after eight weeks of customized vestibular rehabilitation for disability (Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI], Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale [ABC]), dynamic balance (Timed Up and Go Test [TUG], Dynamic Gait Index [DGI]), and postural stability (static posturography).

RESULTS

The differences between DHI, TUG, DGI, and falling index (as assessed by static posturography) scores before and after the exercise program were statistically significant in both groups (P<0.05). There were no significant intergroup differences in any of the parameters evaluated (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

In this study, vestibular rehabilitation was found to be equally effective in unilateral and bilateral vestibular dysfunction patients for improving disability, dynamic balance, and postural stability.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT

Patients with bilateral dysfunction, causing more disability and greater handicap may indeed regain their functions as in patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunction by receiving appropriate and adequate vestibular rehabilitation.

Balance in posterior and horizontal canal type benign paroxysmal positional vertigo before and after canalith repositioning maneuvers

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is characterized by acute, brief and rotatory vertigo attacks provoked by changes in head position. Most patients complain of a loss of equilibrium and unstable gait during and between the vertigo attacks. Canalith repositioning maneuvers (CRM) relieve attacks and improve postural stability. In this study balance ability of 32 patients with PC BPPV and 12 patients with HC BPPV before and after treatment with CRM was investigated. 50 healthy volunteers served as the control group. Static balance was measured as mean center of gravity sway velocity recorded in four different conditions: on a static platform and on foam with eyes open and closed. Dynamic balance was measured in tandem walk test. PC BPPV patients demonstrated greater sway velocity in stance on foam with eyes closed. After CRM the velocity decreased significantly. The results of the HC BPPV patients were not different from the healthy volunteers all through the four test conditions. Walking speed of the patients both with PC BPPV and HC BPPV was significantly low. It increased after treatment in both groups. In conclusion, patients with PC BPPV had impaired static balance ability due to a clot in the affected canal. Dynamic balance ability measured by walking speed was impaired both in PC and HC BPPV patients. Static and dynamic deficits improved significantly after CRM.

Headache in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a prevalence study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of headache in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and to examine the relationship between headache types and clinical, serologic features of the disease.

METHODS

The study enclosed 133 patients with the diagnoses of pSS and 97 healthy controls. A questionnaire designed to assess the presence of headache and if present to classify it according to the criteria of the International Headache Society was used.

RESULTS

In 133 of the pSS patients evaluated, 104 had headache. No association was present between types of headache and the clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease. Both migraine and tension-type headache were more common in patients with pSS when compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of migraine in pSS patients might be explained by a vascular headache triggered by immuno-mediated disease activity without an obvious clinic or laboratory marker.

Clinical features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in Western Turkey

BACKGROUND

It was the aim of this study to analyze the clinical manifestations, the incidence of each variant and the comorbid conditions of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) as well as the response to treatment.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-seven patients with BPPV were reviewed prospectively. An extensive neurotologic examination was performed. All patients were treated with an appropriate canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM).

RESULTS

In 138 patients, the posterior canal (PC) was involved, in 14 patients, the horizontal canal (HC), in 2 patients, the anterior canal (AC), and in 3 patients, both the PC and HC. A history of head trauma was identified in 17 patients. In 1 patient sensorineural hearing loss on the affected side and in another bilateral peripheral vestibular loss was present. A history of migraine was reported in 21 cases. A resolution attributable to the first CRM was achieved in 132 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PC involvement was the most frequent type constituting 87.9% of all BPPV cases. HC, AC and mixed canal types were relatively rare constituting 8.9, 1.3 and 1.9% of the cases, respectively. Response to the first CRM was recorded in 84.1%. Association with migraine was recorded in 13.4% of the patients.

Treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension: topiramate vs acetazolamide, an open-label study

OBJECTIVES - To assess the efficacy of topiramate in the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and to compare it with acetazolamide. METHODS - Fourty patients diagnosed as IIH and randomly assigned to treatment with either acetazolamide or topiramate were assessed prospectively. Improvement in the visual fields at the end of third, sixth and twelfth months were taken into consideration. RESULTS - The demographic, clinical features and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure of the two treatment groups were similar at the beginning of the study. When the follow-up visual field grades were compared with the visual field grades at the beginning of the study in each group a statistically significant improvement was detected with both drugs. When the results of the two treatment groups were compared with each other no statistically significant difference was present. Prominent weight loss was recorded in the topiramate group. CONCLUSIONS - Topiramate seems to be effective in the treatment of IIH. Weight reduction as well as the reduction of the CSF formation is the possible mechanism of action.

Subclinical neurological abnormalities in children with celiac disease receiving a gluten-free diet

OBJECTIVES

Because clinically evident manifestations are frequent in adults with celiac disease (CD), we aimed to investigate whether early neurological abnormalities may be detected in children with CD.

METHODS

Electroencephalography, electromyography, and somatosensory evoked potentials were performed in children with CD receiving a gluten-free diet.

RESULTS

The neurophysiological tests revealed subclinical neurological abnormalities associated with CD in 3 (11%) of 27 children: 2 had peripheral polyneuropathy documented with electromyography, and 1 had prolonged latencies in somatosensory evoked potential. Magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormalities in 2 (7.4%) of children: pontine demyelinization in 1 and cortical atrophy in the other.

CONCLUSIONS

Because the rate of neurological problems is increased in children with CD, neurological abnormalities should be carefully investigated early after the diagnosis of CD is made.

Dysarthria due to Supratentorial and Infratentorial Ischemic Stroke: A Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dysarthria characterized by slurring with imprecise articulation without evidence of aphasia is a frequent symptom in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia, although there is little knowledge on its anatomic specificity and spectrum of associated clinical characteristics regarding diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

METHODS

An investigation of 101 consecutive patients with sudden-onset dysarthria due to a single or multiple lesions on DWI, corresponding to 8.7% of 1,160 patients with ischemic stroke, was made. The presence of lesions of the cranial arteries was sought by magnetic resonance angiography and reviewed with a three-dimensional rotating cineangiographic method.

RESULTS

Dysarthria was mostly associated with a supratentorial lesion (63%) and with a classic lacunar stroke syndrome in 45% of patients. Lacunar lesions on DWI were found in 69 (68%) patients, while only 45 of the patients (65%) with a lacunar infarct presented a classic lacunar syndrome with dysarthria. Pure dysarthria occurred in 15% of patients, dysarthria + pure motor hemiparesis in 14%, dysarthria + ataxic hemiparesis in 11%, dysarthria + clumsy hand syndrome in 7%, dysarthria + pure sensory stroke in 3%, dysarthria + central facial paresis in 8% and lingual paresis occurred in 2%. The lesions were due to small-artery disease in 41%, large-artery disease in 15%, cardioembolism in 10% and a mixed etiology in 3%. The cause of stroke was not identified in 17 patients. Lesions on DWI were found mainly in the corona radiata (n = 18), middle cerebral artery territory, including the motor cortex and/or insular cortex (n = 13), striatocaudate nuclei (n = 11), primary motor cortex (n = 10), internal capsule (n = 7), pons (n = 25), pontobulbar junction (n = 5) and the thalamomesencephalic junction (n = 4). Isolated cerebellar infarctions (n = 6) or associated brainstem lesions (n = 6) affected mostly the superior cerebellar artery or the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory.

CONCLUSION

Cortical involvement was more frequent in patients with pure dysarthria than those with dysarthria and additional neurological signs, while the frequency of pontine involvement was higher in patients with additional neurological signs than those with pure dysarthria. One third of the patients with dysarthria had multiple lesions on DWI, and the most common cause of stroke was small-artery disease. Pure dysarthria, dysarthria with lingual paresis, dysarthria with clumsy hand and dysarthria with facial paresis had predictive value for lacunar lesions.

Evaluating cognitive functions with visual and auditory number assays and P300 in children with epilepsy

This study was planned to evaluate cognitive functions, especially attention and immediate recall, in children with epilepsy by using P300 and neuropsychological tests, which included visual and auditory number assays. Fifty five patients with partial seizures, 45 patients with generalized seizures and 20 patients with intractable seizures were enrolled in the study. Twenty five healthy children were taken as the control group. The results were as follows: 1. P300 latencies were significantly longer in the intractable and partial groups when compared with the control subjects. 2. The duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency, cerebral imaging pathologies were not significantly correlated with delayed P300 latencies. 3. The results of the visual and auditory number assays test showed significant abnormalities when each of the three groups were compared with the normal controls. 4. Though some subgroups of the neuropsychological tests were correlated with the P300 latencies, an overall significant correlation was not present between them. So, we suggest that neuropsychological tests are more convenient for the assessment of cognitive functions in children with epilepsy than the P300 recordings.

P300 and neuropsychological evaluation in Behçet’s disease with and without neurological manifestations

We evaluated cognitive dysfunction in Behçet's disease (BD) with and without neurological manifestations by P300 and neuropsychological tests. Thirty-four BD patients without neurological manifestations, eighteen BD patients with neurological manifestations and 15 controls were studied. P300 potentials and neuropsychological tests were performed. P300 latency values and neuropsychological tests were not significantly different from the normal controls in BD patients without neurological manifestations. In neurologically symptomatic patients attention and memory deficits and delayed P300 potentials were found.

Visual evoked potentials in children with occipital epilepsies

The objectives of this study are to see if any visual evoked potential (VEP) differences are present in two forms of occipital epilepsy, childhood epilepsy with occipital paroxysms (CEOP) and symptomatic occipital epilepsy (SOE) with respect to etiology, as CEOP is a benign age- and localization-related idiopathic epilepsy while SOE is a symptomatic form. Nineteen patients with CEOP and 13 patients with SOE were included in the study and P100 potential latency and amplitude values obtained from these patients were compared with the values recorded from normal controls. The amplitude values recorded from the patients with CEOP were significantly high (P=0.033). P100 potential latency values recorded in patients with SOE were significantly long (P=0.028). High amplitude VEP responses were mostly attributed to hyperexcitability of the occipital cortical structures whereas prolonged latency P100 responses were attributed to occipital structural changes.

Pseudotumor cerebri: etiological factors, presenting features and prognosis in the western part of Turkey

OBJECTIVES

Pseudotumor cerebri (PC) is a clinical condition characterized by signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, such as headache and papilledema.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A total of 62 patients diagnosed with PC, who were on follow-up for a period ranging from 4 to 60 months, were investigated retrograde from 1990 to 1998 and then anterograde from 1998 to 2001 to find out the etiological factors, symptoms and signs and the prognosis in the western part of Turkey.

RESULTS

There were 47 (76%) women and 15 (24%) men. The age of onset of symptoms was 32.7 +/- 9.9 (range 18-56) years. Obesity was found in only 17 (30%) of them. There were eight patients (13%) with venous sinus thrombosis causing PC. Five patients (8%) had Behçet's disease. The most common symptom was headache, recorded in 93% of the patients, which was followed by transient visual obscurations (60%). Snellen visual acuity was disturbed in 17 patients (27%) at the initial visit. Visual loss determined by automated perimetry was present in 71% of the cases. Three patients (3%) became blind in both eyes. Of the 62 patients, 41 were on follow-up during the study. Twenty-one (51%) showed regression of the visual field grade, nine patients (22%) worsened and 11 (27%) were stationary.

CONCLUSION

Obesity was not as frequent as reported in western countries but Behçet's disease was found to be a frequent cause. Perimetry was the most reliable method to follow-up the patients.

Ischaemic preconditioning reduces spinal cord injury in transient ischaemia

OBJECTIVE

Paraplegia remains a devastating complication after thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic surgery for coarctations, dissections or aneurysms. Since the advent of ischaemic preconditioning of the myocardium, attention has been directed to the nervous system. This study was designed to evaluate the acute protective effect of ischaemic preconditioning on the spinal cord. MEDHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The preconditioning group had 5 minutes of aortic occlusion, 25 minutes reperfusion and 20 minutes of ischaemia, whereas the controls had only 20 minutes of ischaemia. The sham group was anaesthetized and subjected to laparotomy without aortic occlusion. Physiological parameters and somatosensory evoked potentials were monitored during the experiment. Neurological outcome was clinically evaluated up to 48 hour after ischaemia and motor function was scored. Then the animals were sacrificed. Their spinal cord, abdominal aorta and its branches were removed and processed for histopathological examination. Histhopathological changes of the gray matter in the lumbosacral segments were scored from 0 to 6 according to a semi-quantitative scala. The changes in amplitudes of evoked potentials during ischaemia and recovery periods were similar in preconditioning and control groups. The average motor function score was significantly higher in the preconditioning group than the control group at 24 and 48 hours after the ischaemic event (p < 0.05). Histological observations were consistent with the neurological findings. The histopathological scores in the control group and the preconditioning group were 3.2 (1.4-5.2) and 2.4 (0.8-4.4), respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that ischaemic preconditioning reduces the spinal cord injury and improves neurological outcome in transient ischaemia in rabbits. This protective mechanism is rapidly invoked within only 25 minutes interval between the preconditioning stimulus and the ischaemic insult.

Trigeminocervical reflexes elicited by stimulation of the infraorbital nerve: head retraction reflex

In the current study, the effects of stimulation of the infraorbital nerve (ION) on the trigeminocervical reflexes (TCRs), recorded from the posterior neck muscles, was investigated and the results were compared with the results recorded by stimulation of the supraorbital nerve (SON). TCRs obtained by stimulation of the ION was evaluated as the electrophysiologic counterpart of the head retraction reflex. Twenty normal control subjects, 10 men and 10 women, were enrolled in the study. The SON and the ION were stimulated by using a bipolar surface electrode. Results were recorded by using either concentric needle electrodes inserted into the semispinalis capitis muscle at the level of the third or fourth cervical vertebra or by surface electrodes placed at the C3 and C7 vertebrae on the midline. It was found that stimulation of the supraorbital and infraorbital branches of the trigeminal nerve had different reflexive effects on the posterior neck muscles. A stable positive (or negative-positive) wave, with a very early latency and high amplitude was always recorded after maximal stimulation of the ION, which could never be detected by stimulation of the SON. The C3 response of the TCR, evoked by SON stimulation was always evoked, by stimulation of the ION, at a low threshold. These findings suggest that the head retraction reflex is composed of two phases: inhibitory and excitatory. The early, fixed positive wave represents the general inhibition of the cranial and neck muscles, just before withdrawal of the face and head, from unexpected stimuli, which precedes the dense C3 response, demonstrating activation of the posterior neck muscles.

Intracranial venous thrombosis associated with severe antithrombin-III deficiency in pregnancy

We report a patient with intracranial venous thrombosis in the third trimester of pregnancy associated with severe antithrombin-III deficiency. The evaluation of protein C, protein S and antithrombin-III levels in patients with thrombotic events during pregnancy may reveal the specific cause of the thrombotic event and thereby influence patient management

Corneal reflex and blink reflex changes in thalamic hemorrhage

We studied the corneal reflex (CR) with air-puff and direct touch by using a standardized method in patients with thalamic hemorrhage (TH) (n: 15) and in normal control subjects (n: 21). The conventional blink reflex (BR) was also studied. In the TH group: 1--When the cornea on the clinically nonaffected side was stimulated the corneal reflex responses were elicited bilaterally, with normal latency on the clinically normal side and delayed on the affected side. 2--When the cornea on the clinically affected side was stimulated, the corneal responses on both sides were either abnormal or could not be elicited. 3--The ipsilateral R1 and R2 responses recorded by stimulation of the supraorbital nerve on the clinically affected side were abnormal where the contralateral R2 responses were in the normal range. In the normal control and TH groups: 1--No statistical difference could be detected between the responses elicited by air-puff or direct touch to cornea (p > 0.05). 2--CR responses were statistically different from the R2 response of the BR (p < 0.005).

Analysis of the corneal reflex with air puff: normal controls and patient groups

Though there are several reports published about the corneal reflex elicited by different methods, a standardized electrophysiologic study with air puff in man has not been published. The aim of this study is to standardize the corneal reflex elicited by air puff to cornea. The authors studied the corneal reflex with air puff and direct touch by using a standardized method in patients with thalamic hemorrhage (n = 15), hemispheric infarction (n = 9), brainstem infarction (n = 9), multiple sclerosis (n = 12), and Bell's palsy (n = 12) and in normal control subjects (n = 21). The conventional blink reflex (BR) was also studied. The reflex responses were recorded from both orbicularis oculi muscles by air puff and direct touch to cornea in addition to the electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve. No statistical difference could be detected between the responses elicited by air puff or direct touch to cornea (P > 0.05). Corneal reflex responses were statistically different from the R2 response of the BR (P < 0.005). Because the responses elicited by direct touch and air puff to cornea are identical, air puff to cornea can be used confidently to study the corneal reflex.

Neuropsychologic sequelae in the long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The neurotoxicity of either systemic chemotherapy or central nervous system prophylaxis was studied in 19 children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). They had completed ALL therapy at least a year before and survived more than 5 years after diagnosis. The duration between age at diagnosis and age at investigation was 8.6 +/- 2.7 years (5-15 years). Neuropsychologic tests, cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and evoked potentials (EP) were studied. Seventeen healthy siblings were taken as a control group. Emotional evaluation was done using the childhood depression inventory and Beck depression inventory. Cognitive functions were evaluated using Wechsler's Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) or the Wechsler's Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) tests, which were adapted to Turkish children. Performance and total IQ scores (94.0 +/- 16.8 and 92.2 +/- 16.5) were significantly low as compared to the control group (112.1 +/- 18.9 and 105.4 +/- 14.2) (p = .007 and p = .02). Abnormal MRI findings were found in 33.3% (6/18). Three out of 18 patients (16.6%) had abnormal auditory while 5 out of 17 patients (29.5%) displayed abnormal visual EPs. Abnormal findings in MRI, cognitive examination, and electrophysiologic testing were not associated with age at diagnosis, radiotherapy doses, intermediate/high-dose systemic methotrexate administration or central nervous system involvement. But more patients must be studied to demonstrate discrete outcomes of neurotoxicity in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia.

Continuous muscle fibre activity: a case treated with acetazolamide

A case is reported of the continuous muscle fibre activity syndrome, which includes a group of disorders characterised by sustained motor unit activity due to hyperactivity of peripheral nerve motor axons. In this patient the muscle stiffness and myokymic movements were successfully treated with acetazolamide, which acts as a membrane stabiliser either by blockade of chloride and bicarbonate membrane transport or by producing kaliuresis and raising the transmembrane potential by decreasing extracellular potassium.

Aprotinin reduces injury of the spinal cord in transient ischemia

OBJECTIVE

The protective effect of aprotinin, which is a protease inhibitor, was assessed in a rabbit spinal cord ischemia model.

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled, prospective study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

New Zealand white rabbits (36) of both sexes.

METHODS

In 24 animals, ischemia was induced with midline laparotomy and clamping the aorta just distal to left renal artery and proximal to aortic bifurcation for 20 min. Aprotinin was given 30000 KIU as a short intravenous injection after anesthesia, and was followed by 10000 KIU/h by continuous infusion in group 1 (n = 12). Similar volume of saline solution was used in control group of animals (group 2, n = 12). Group 3 of animals (sham group, n = 12) were anesthetized and subjected to laparotomy without aortic occlusion. Physiological parameters and somatosensory evoked-potentials (SEP) were monitored in animals before ischemia, during ischemia and in the first 60 min of reperfusion. Their neurological outcome was clinically evaluated up to 48 h postischemia. Their motor function was scored, and the intergroup differences were compared. The animals were sacrificed after two days of postischemia. Their spinal cord, abdominal aorta, and its branches were processed for histopathological examination.

RESULTS

In group 3, SEP amplitudes did not change during the procedures, and all animals recovered without neurologic deficits. At the end of ischemic period, the average amplitude was reduced to 53+/-7% of the baseline in all ischemic animals. This was followed by a gradual return to 89+/-8 and 81+/-13% of the initial amplitude after 60 min of reperfusion in group 1 and group 2 correspondingly (P > 0.05). The average motor function score was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2 at 24 and 48 h after the ischemic insult (P < 0.05). Histological observations were clearly correlated with the neurological findings.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that aprotinin reduces spinal cord injury and preserves neurologic function in transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.

Trigemino-cervical reflexes in normal subjects

Trigemino-cervical reflexes, recorded from the semispinalis capitis muscle (SCM) in the posterior neck, were studied in 35 healthy volunteers, in response to electrical stimulation of the supraorbital trigeminal nerve and glabellar tapping. Simultaneous responses evoked from the ipsilateral orbicularis oculi muscle (OOM) were also recorded i.e. blink reflexes. Electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve elicited a reflex response with a latency of about 50 ms from the ipsilateral SCM which was called C3. An early reflex response, which sometimes had two components with latencies of 18 ms and 35 ms, was elicited with glabellar taps. They were called C1 and C2 respectively. When C1 and C2 were elicited with usual glabellar taps, C3 was suppressed. With electrical stimulation, suppression of C1 and C2 was noted, though C3 could easily be obtained. Electrophysiological characteristics of C1 (and C2) were compatible with an oligosynaptic, innocuous reflex, whereas C3 seemed to be multisynaptic and nociceptive in nature. A negative interaction between these two reflexes was observed.

Middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs) in (MS)

Middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs) were studied in 30 definite multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in addition to brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). BAEP abnormalities were detected in 18 (60%) patients. MLAEPs were abnormal in 22 (73%) of them. In 15 patients BAEPs and MLAEPs were both abnormal. MLAEPs were found abnormal in 7 of the 12 patients with normal BAEPs. In 18 patients with abnormal BAEPs only 3 had normal MLAEPs. MLAEPs abnormalities are consistent with a rostral auditory pathway involvement. Therefore, they can be used in combination with BAEPs to examine the whole auditory system to improve the sensitivity.