Can SSEP results predict functional recovery of stroke patients within the "therapeutic window"?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prognostic value of median somatosensory evoked potentials (mSSEP) within the "therapeutic window" of ischemic stroke.


METHODS
Twenty-two patients (mean age 60.8 +/- 14.8 years) with first ischemic stroke in middle cerebral artery territory without contraindications for thrombolysis underwent mSSEP investigation within 3 hours of onset. Stroke topography was verified within 48 hours by computed tomography. M-SSEP results (presence, amplitude and amplitude ratio, latency and central conduction time) were compared to severity of motor deficit at onset and to recovery at 6 months.


RESULTS
M-SSEP were present in 17 patients, 7 of whom had partial and 10--complete motor recovery. Absence of mSSEP was found in 5 persons. None recovered function of the arm and only 2 were ambulatory at 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In the earliest phase of ischemic stroke absence of mSSEP response is reliable predictor of poor functional outcome.
Stroke Care Unit, Medical University of Pleven, Bulgaria. tzvetanovplamen@hotmail.com
Plamen
P
Tzvetanov
Ivan
I
Milanov
Rossen T
RT
Rousseff
Petkana
P
Christova
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors