Brain volume analyses and somatosensory evoked potentials in multiple system atrophy.
We investigated a progression of brain atrophy and somatosensory system dysfunction in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Subjects were 21 MSA patients [12 MSA-C (cerebellar type) and 9 MSA-P (parkinsonism type)]. The relative volumes of cerebrum, brainstem and cerebellum to the intracranial volume were obtained from three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) of the brain. The median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded, and the latencies and amplitudes of N9, N11, P13/14, N20 and P25 components were measured. We studied correlations between brain volumes, SEP and clinical features. The brainstem and cerebellar atrophies were aggravated with progression of the disease. The central sensory conduction time (CSCT) was progressively prolonged in parallel with the disease duration irrespective of the actual age of the patients. In MSA patients, the volume reductions of cerebellum and brainstem could be one of structural markers of disease progression, and the sensory pathway is progressively involved with the progression of disease processes.
Department of Neurology, Higashi-Saitama National Hospital, Hasuda, Saitama, Japan.
Satoko
S
Miyatake
Hitoshi
H
Mochizuki
Tetsuji
T
Naka
Yoshikazu
Y
Ugawa
Hajime
H
Tanabe
Daisuke
D
Kuzume
Mikiya
M
Suzuki
Katsuhisa
K
Ogata
Mitsuru
M
Kawai
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D020886:Somatosensory Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed