title: Evoked potentials are useful for diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has been differentiated from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) by clinical, laboratory, and pathological findings, including the presence of the anti-aquaporin 4 antibody. Measurement of evoked potentials (EPs) is often used for the diagnosis of RRMS, although the possibility of applying EPs to the diagnosis of NMOSD has not been investigated in detail. Eighteen patients with NMOSD and 28 patients with RRMS were included in this study. The patients' neurological symptoms and signs were examined and their EPs were recorded. Characteristic findings were absence of visual evoked potentials and absence of motor evoked potentials in the lower extremities in patients with NMOSD, and a delay in these potentials in patients with RRMS. Most patients with NMOSD did not present abnormal subclinical EPs, whereas many patients with RRMS did. None of the patients with NMOSD showed abnormalities in auditory brainstem responses. NMOSD can be differentiated from RRMS by EP data obtained in the early stages of these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan. Electronic address: keiko-o@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohnari
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Tohoku, Seiryomachi, Sendai 980-8574, Japan; Department of Neurology, Yonezawa National Hospital, 26100-1 Misawa, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-1202, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mafune
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan. Electronic address: hadachi-ns@umin.org.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D051401:Aquaporin 4 / Q000276:immunology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D051401:Aquaporin 4
keywords: Auditory brainstem responses; Motor evoked potentials; Neuromyelitis optica; Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; Visual evoked potentials