Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate visual and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (VEP, BAEP) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with regards to fatigue and disease-related variables. The study comprised 86 MS patients and 40 controls. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS/FSS-5) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Latencies and amplitudes of the P100 component of VEP and the I–V components of BAEP were analyzed. The results of EP were compared between non-fatigued, moderately and severely fatigued MS patients and controls. P100 latency was increased and amplitude decreased in moderately and severely fatigued MS subjects. The latency of the V component of BAEP and interlatencies I-III-V were increased in severely fatigued patients. The amplitude of the V component was lowered in fatigued patients. VEP and BAEP abnormalities were usually one-sided. Interocular P100 latency difference tended to correlate with FSS/FSS-5. The parameters of VEP and BAEP correlated with functional system scores but not with MS duration, overall degree of disability or its progression over time. Significant, usually asymmetrical VEP and BAEP abnormalities were found in fatigued MS patients, with no relationships to disease-related variables. EP may be considered an electrophysiological marker of fatigue in MS patients.

Highlights

  • Fatigue is commonly reported by patients with multiple sclerosis and has a profound impact upon their daily activities and quality of life

  • Neurol Sci (2015) 36:235–242 potentials in their history. 62 patients had never been treated with disease-modifying agents. 24 subjects had undergone treatment with interferon beta or glatiramer acetate for 1–3 years, but treatment had ceased at least 6 months prior to their inclusion in this study

  • There was a significant correlation between Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) results and the age of the multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (R = 0.24, p = 0.02)

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Summary

Introduction

Fatigue is commonly reported by patients with multiple sclerosis and has a profound impact upon their daily activities and quality of life. The background of fatigue is associated with disturbed bioelectrical neuronal activity due to demyelination and axonal loss [3, 4]. Studies with the use of motor evoked potentials and electroencephalography event-related desynchronization have shown decreased neuronal excitability and frequency-dependent conduction block in fatigued MS patients [5,6,7,8]. Visual and auditory evoked potentials are regarded as useful tools for recognizing and monitoring damage to central nervous system ascending pathways in the course of MS. These methods have not been used so far in studies on MS fatigue, investigating its origin and methods of its evaluation

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