Visual evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis before and after two years of interferon therapy.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important in the diagnosis of and follow-up for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS); evoked potentials may be important if MRI is normal or cannot be performed. We assessed serial visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and cranial MRI in a group of clinically relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (N = 15) treated with interferon beta-lb (INFB-1b) and in normal subjects (N = 15). The investigations were done 1 week before INFB-lb therapy, 1 year later (N = 15), and 2 years later (N = 10). VEPs were abnormal in most of the patients; MRIs were abnormal in all patients. We used P100 latency as an electrophysiological index for the progress of illness. There were significant differences in VEPs between the beginning and ending of the interferon treatment. We concluded that VEPs would be a reliable index for following up the progress of MS under interferon therapy.
Anlar
Omer
O
Department of Neurology, University of Yuzuncu Yil, Van, Turkey. omeranlar@yyu.edu.tr
Kisli
Mesude
M
Tombul
Temel
T
Ozbek
Hanefi
H
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018450:Disease Progression; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta