title: Evoked potentials and disability in multiple sclerosis: A different perspective to a neglected method.
abstract: Evoked potentials and disability in multiple sclerosis: a different perspective to a neglected method.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Because evoked potentials (EP) are reflections of the functional integrity of sensory-motor systems, they are expected to reflect the abnormality in patients with disabilities and handicaps and also be in correlation with scales. This assumption was tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and myelopathy (M) and normal controls were investigated by EP, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12, timed 25-foot walk test and extended disability status scale (EDSS). EP results were converted to ordinal values, and correlations of these values with scales were calculated. Sensitivity and specificity analysis of EP parameters was also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total EP scores revealed high rates of abnormality in both groups, but MS revealed a different correlation pattern from M. The SEP+MEP summed score showed high sensitivity and specificity for MS and this was also correlated with the MS-related disability-ambulation scales including EDSS. The most specific parameter was the minimum M latency in the MEP study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four extremity recordings of EP with the use of more parameters than usual and ordinal expression of results seem to be benefical in MS. Although this study was cross sectional in nature, results indicated that EP might be useful in clinical follow up.
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, 09100, Aydin, Turkey. Electronic address: knefati@isbank.net.tr.
authors.forename: Nefati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kiylioglu
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, 09100, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahu Unsal
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Parlaz
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, 09100, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Utku Ogan
authors.initials: UO
authors.lastname: Akyildiz
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes University, Medical Faculty, Department of Neurology, 09100, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tataroglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MEP; MS; Motor evoked potential; Multiple sclerosis; SEP; Somatosensory evoked potential