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.
Aguglia
U
U
Istituto di Scienze Neurologiche, Università di Reggio Calabria, Catanzaro, Italia.
Farnarier
G
G
Regis
H
H
Oliveri
R L
RL
Quattrone
A
A
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