title: Prognostic value of median and tibial somatosensory evoked potentials in acute stroke.
abstract: The predictive values of early somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) for the functional outcome after stroke are investigated. Ninety-four stroke patients (mean age: 61.2, S.D.: 11.8) with CT confirmed diagnoses of middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction in 71 and supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage in 23. Median and tibial SSEPs were recorded within 3 days of onset. SSEP parameters were compared to motor (MRC) and functional ability (Barthel index) followed up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Upper limb MRC remains the strongest single predictor of functional outcome, determining 54.3% of Barthel index value at 12 months. The highest predictive value among SSEP parameters has N20-P25 amplitude ratio-34.5%. Combined application of upper limb MRC and N20-P25 amplitude ratio provided significantly stronger prognostic information-66%. Combined assessment of SSEP parameters and muscle power in acute stroke considerably improves prediction of functional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Pleven, Georgi Kochev str. 8A, Pleven 5800, Bulgaria. tzvetanovplamen@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Plamen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tzvetanov
authors.forename: Rossen T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Rousseff
authors.forename: Penka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atanassova
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods