title: Effects of intrathecal baclofen on lumbosacral and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials.
abstract: We analyzed lumbosacral and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials in three spinal cord injury patients undergoing evaluation of intrathecal baclofen infusion for management of spasticity. The cauda equina propagating root wave (R wave) and conus medullaris postsynaptic responses (S and P waves) were analyzed before and during baclofen infusion. Baclofen abolished the concomitantly recorded H-reflex and markedly suppressed the P wave amplitude and area. The S wave amplitude and area were suppressed to a lesser degree. In contrast, there were no significant changes in cortical somatosensory evoked potentials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Loubser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D001418:Baclofen