title: Changes in the amplitude of the N30 frontal component of SEPs during apomorphine test in parkinsonian patients.
abstract: Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to median nerve stimulation have been performed before and after apomorphine-test in 10 parkinsonian patients. Latency and amplitude of the P14-N20 parietal complex and of the P20-N30 frontal complex were evaluated. The N30 amplitude was significantly reduced before apomorphine administration (p < 0.001) with a consequent increase of the N20/N30 amplitude ratio (p < 0.001). Eight patients clinically improved after Apomorphine. Following Apomorphine there was no change in the amplitude of the parietal complex P14-N20. On the other hand the frontal complex P20-N30 showed a significant amplitude potentiation (p < 0.005), with a reduction of the N20/ N30 amplitude ratio (ns). This finding was almost constant among the 8 responder patients. These results suggest the utility of combining clinical and neurophysiological data to assess the responsiveness to dopaminergic treatment.
authors: Institute of Neurology, University of Bari, Italy.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: de Mari
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Margari
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Lamberti
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Iliceto
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001058:Apomorphine; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001058:Apomorphine