Evoked potentials in acute ischemic stroke within the first 24 h: possible predictor of a malignant course.
OBJECTIVE
In patients with large middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction, space-occupying brain edema may lead to a malignant course with up to 80% mortality, under conservative treatment. As interventional treatment strategies must be started before the deterioration occurs, predictors of a malignant course are necessary.


METHODS
This study reports on the results of evoked potentials (brainstem auditory evoked potentials [BAEP] and median-nerve somatosensory evoked potentials [SEP]) within 24 h after onset of stroke in 30 patients suffering a large MCA infarct (14 patients with a malignant and 16 with a non-malignant course).


RESULTS
Our findings indicate that pathological BAEP indicate a malignant course (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that in patients suffering from large MCA infarction early assessment of EP within 24 h after onset of stroke may deliver useful information to select those patients who develop malignant edema.
Burghaus
Lothar
L
Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany. lothar.burghaus@uk-koeln.de
Liu
Wei-Chi
WC
Dohmen
Christian
C
Bosche
Bert
B
Haupt
Walter F
WF
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies