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Thoru Yamada, MD; Ezzatolla Shivapour, MD; J. Terry Wilkinson, MD; Jun Kimura, MD

Arch Neurol. 1982;39(2):88-94.

Abstract
• Thirty-nine of 52 patients, with definite (29) or probable (23) multiple sclerosis (MS) had unequivocal alterations of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). In 28 patients both short- (up to N₁₈) and long-latency (after N₁₈) components were affected, whereas the abnormality was limited to the long-latency SEPs in the remaining 11 patients. These findings indicate that a substantial number of SEP abnormalities may be overlooked if the test is determined solely on the basis of short-latency components. Furthermore, a questionable change of short-latency SEPs could often be decidedly abnormal by finding extreme asymmetry of longlatency components. The long-latency SEPs are therefore a useful adjunct in evaluating cases of MS, especially if bilateral stimulation is used.

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Clinical Electrophysiology, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Feb 20, 1981.

Reprint requests to Division of Clinical Electrophysiology, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242 (Dr Yamada).