title: The effects of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone on event-related potentials in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of high-dose (i.e. 1000 mg per day) intravenous methylprednisolone (HDMP) on event-related potentials (ERPs), elicited by a standard auditory 'oddball' paradigm, in patients with clinically active multiple sclerosis. In a double-blind study design, forty-four consecutive inpatients were randomly assigned in two clinically similar groups of 22 subjects each; one treated with HDMP for five days, and other with placebo. ERPs were recorded before and after the treatment. After HDMP therapy the P3 peak latency was significantly shortened (P=0.006), while peak latencies of other waves (i.e. N1, P2, and N2) remained unchanged. On the other hand, ERPs were uninfluenced by placebo treatment. Our results suggest the beneficial effect of intravenous HDMP therapy on, at least some aspects of, cognitive processing capabilities (as assessed by the auditory ERPs) in patients with multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Filipović
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drulović
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stojsavljević
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lević
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010919:Placebos; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D008775:Methylprednisolone