Pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials in normal women.
OBJECTIVE
Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) is an electrophysiological test used to evaluate sensory innervations in peripheral and central neuropathies. Pudendal SSEP has been studied in dysfunctions related to the lower urinary tract and pelvic floor. Although some authors have already described technical details pertaining to the method, the standardization and the influence of physiological variables in normative values have not yet been established, especially for women. The aim of the study was to describe normal values of the pudendal SSEP and to compare technical details with those described by other authors.


METHODS
The clitoral sensory threshold and pudendal SSEP latency was accomplished in 38 normal volunteers. The results obtained from stimulation performed on each side of the clitoris were compared to ages, body mass index (BMI) and number of pregnancies.


RESULTS
The values of clitoral sensory threshold and P1 latency with clitoral left stimulation were respectively, 3.64 +/- 1.01 mA and 37.68 +/- 2.60 ms. Results obtained with clitoral right stimulation were 3.84 +/- 1.53 mA and 37.42 +/- 3.12 ms, respectively. There were no correlations between clitoral sensory threshold and P1 latency with age, BMI or height of the volunteers. A significant difference was found in P1 latency between nulliparous women and volunteers who had been previously submitted to cesarean section.


CONCLUSIONS
The SSEP latency represents an accessible and reproducible method to investigate the afferent pathways from the genitourinary tract. These results could be used as normative values in studies involving genitourinary neuropathies in order to better clarify voiding and sexual dysfunctions in females.
Cavalcanti
Geraldo A
GA
Divisions of Urology and Neurology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Bruschini
Homero
H
Manzano
Gilberto M
GM
Nunes
Karlo F
KF
Giuliano
Lydia M
LM
Nobrega
Joao A
JA
Srougi
Miguel
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002987:Clitoris / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D052776:Female Urogenital Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis