NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL METHODS IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND ACUTE DISSEMINATED ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN CHILDREN

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate somatosensory and motor pathways condition in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in children. Methods. Twenty (20) healthy children and 29 patients with ADEM (n=14) and MS (n=15) were enrolled into the study. All patients were examined by neurologist. They also passed brain MRI and CSF analysis (oligoclonal bands test), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) examination.Results. In children with MS we revealed significant asymmetry of the conduction along the motor pathways on the spinal level, delay of conduction along somatosensory pathways on the spinal level and low functional state of somatosensory cortex neurons. Conclusions. The revealed differences may be caused by more severe spinal lesion at early stages of MS than in ADEM. The predominant SSEP abnormalities compared with TMS alteration indicate the sensibility of somatosensory pathways and sensory system at early stage of MS. SSEP and TMS may be recommended as standard methods of differential diagnosis of ADEM and MS in children.