title: Masseter reflex and blink reflex abnormalities in Chiari II malformation.
abstract: Masseter reflex and blink reflex were evaluated in 64 patients with a myelomeningocele and Chiari II malformation. In 46 patients, no brainstem signs or symptoms were present. Brainstem dysfunction related to Chiari II malformation occurred in 18 patients. The masseter reflex was more frequently abnormal in the symptomatic than asymptomatic patients (P = 0.02). Although the blink reflex was similarly affected in the two groups of patients (P > 0.1), it was very sensitive, being abnormal in 83% of symptomatic and 65% of asymptomatic patients. Concomitant abnormality of masseter reflex and the late contralateral blink reflex component (R2c) was almost exclusively found in symptomatic patients and reached the highest significance in separating the two groups (P = 0.002).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, D - 55101 Mainz, Germany. koehler@neurologie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Voth
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hölker
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hopf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001767:Blinking; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity