title: Correlation of the VEMP score, ambulation and upper extremity function in clinically isolated syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation of the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) score with Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and EDSS in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, cross sectional study included 52 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). Cervical VEMP (cVEMP) and ocular VEMP (oVEMP), analyzed in the form of the cVEMP, oVEMP and VEMP scores, T25FW, 9HPT, PASAT and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The only predictor of walking impairment in this study was general disability as measured by the EDSS, after controlling for age, gender, PASAT and EDSS the effect of VEMP score was non-significant (p=0.419). 9HPT of the dominant hand did not correlate with the oVEMP score (rs=0.258, p=0.065), however after controlling for age, gender, PASAT and EDSS, the effect of the oVEMP score on 9HPT of the dominant hand was statistically significant (p=0.017). After controlling for age, gender and oVEMP score, the effect of the PASAT on 9HPT variable for the non-dominant hand was statistically significant (p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found possible effects of brainstem dysfunction on walking impairment, however they were not seen after correction for EDSS and cognitive dysfunction. On the other hand, dominant hand function seems to be influenced by upper brainstem dysfunction measured with oVEMP, while cognitive dysfunction is related to non-dominant hand function.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crnošija
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Center Zagreb, Department of Neurology, Referral Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krbot Skorić
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Center Zagreb, Department of Neurology, Referral Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Tereza
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gabelić
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Center Zagreb, Department of Neurology, Referral Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adamec
authors.affiliation: Cortex, Outpatient Neurological Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brinar
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; University Hospital Center Zagreb, Department of Neurology, Referral Center for Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: mhabek@mef.hr.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habek
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058585:Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 9-Hole Peg Test; Clinically isolated syndrome Timed 25-Foot Walk; Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test; Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials