The comparative analyses of the auditory evoked potentials and color Doppler sonography findings in patients diagnosed with vertebrobasilar insufficiency

Abstract

Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) represent an electrophysiological method used in the diagnostics of pathological changes of the brainstem. Patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) show changes in the AEP-caused ischemia of the brain structures that generate their responses.The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic significance and correlation among the findings of AEP in patients with VBI established by color Doppler sonography.The cross-sectional and prospective research included 48 inpatients and outpatients treated at the Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center Nis. Ultrasound Doppler of blood vessels in the neck included an examination of the carotid blood vessels, the outcome and all sonographically available parts of the vertebral artery (VA) with particular emphasis on the intravertebral segment (V2). The morphological and hemodynamic characteristics of VA in this segment were monitored, and it was important to test the systolic velocity in two adjacent intervertebral spaces. Auditory evoked potentials were used to monitor the amplitudes, absolute latencies of waves I, II, III, IV, and V, as well as interwave latencies (IWLs) I–III, III–V, and I–V.There is statistically significant difference in the more frequent pathological finding of AEP in patients with higher degree of the reduced flow of VA established by color Doppler (P < 0·05) compared to patients with less reduction in the flow. Pathological findings of AEP are well correlated with pathological findings of VBI in color Doppler, and it may be applied as an additional and useful marker in diagnosis of VBI.