Sensory evoked potentials in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Eight patients presenting with intermediate or terminal evolution of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) were investigated by means of evoked potentials. Fifteen age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. The 8 patients had well-recognizable but simplified flash evoked potentials (FEPs) consisting of P1 and N2 waves followed by a single late positive (P2) deflection. Enlarged FEPs were found in 2 of the 8 patients. The somatosensory central conduction time was normal in 3 of 5 patients, and it resulted in upper normal limits or was moderately slowed in 2 patients. No enlarged somatosensory scalp potentials were recorded. Cortical somatosensory responses were characterized by an unrecognizable (4 patients) or delayed (2 patients) N33 wave. Brainstem auditory evoked responses, recorded in 6 patients, were normal. In CJD very important functional impairment of the sensory cortical areas is associated with absent or mild dysfunction of the subcortical sensory pathways.
Istituto di Scienze Neurologiche, Università di Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, Italia.
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Aguglia
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Farnarier
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Regis
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Oliveri
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Quattrone
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation