title: Brainstem auditory evoked responses and CT findings in multiple system atrophy.
abstract: Brainstem auditory evoked responses (BAERs) and CT findings were comparatively studied in 11 patients with Shy-Drager syndrome and 10 patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy. The I-III interpeak latencies (IPLs) were prolonged in 6 patients with Shy-Drager syndrome and in 6 patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Mean values of the I-III IPLs were 2.54 +/- 0.28 ms (Shy-Drager syndrome) and 2.62 +/- 0.15 ms (olivopontocerebellar atrophy). In each disease, the I-III IPLs correlated well with the degree of the pontine atrophy estimated from the CT scan. The patients with Shy-Drager syndrome could be clinically divided into two varieties. In addition to autonomic dysfunction, one variety (4 patients) was linked with parkinsonism, and the other (7 patients) with signs of multiple nervous systems involvement. Prolongation of I-III IPLs and pontine atrophy were noted in 6 out of the latters patients, whereas the former patients did not show such abnormalities. The combination of BAERs and CT scan provides useful clinical information on multiple system atrophy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uematsu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotoh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009849:Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012791:Shy-Drager Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed