Brainstem auditory evoked potentials on individuals with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) test results are reported on thirty-eight individuals clinically diagnosed as suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). Although several studies1–4 discuss examples of BAEP results for MS patients, only Robinson and Rudge specifically investigated the relationship between BAEP and MS5–7 In 1975, they5 reported that twenty-two of thirty patients demonstrated abnormal BAEP test results. The most common feature observed was an increase in the latency of Peak V. They added that a decrease in amplitude may accompany the increase in latency, or that either an increase in latency or a decrease in amplitude may occur alone. Two subsequent studies by Robinson and Rudge6,7 discussed abnormalities in BAEP of MS patients; one discussed abnormalities in latency and amplitude; the other investigated the stability of the response over a nine-month period and indicated variations in latency, additional waves before peak V and susceptibility to stress (i.e. pairs of clicks) of BAEP in MS patients.