Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Multiple sclerosis (MS), is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Among the findings of most of the multiple sclerosis patients, there was an abnormality in the sensory examination; the disturbance of the sense of vibration is one of them. Somatosensory evoked potential(SEP) abnormalities are quite common in patients with multiple sclerosis. SEP studies may be a guide for the involvement of medulla spinalis in patients without clinical findings. The aim of our study is to determine SEP abnormalities and their relationship with loss of clinical sense of vibration in patients with multiple sclerosis without a history of spinal attack.

METHODS

50 patients with multiple sclerosis who applied to the Multiple Sclerosis policlinic of Neurology Department of İzmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital in 2018 were involved in our study.

RESULTS

In our study, a significant relationship was found between SEP N20 latency with upper extremity vibration sensation (p= 0.015) and SEP P40 latency with lower extremity vibration sensation (p=0.034).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our results confirm the subclinical medulla spinalis involvement in patients with MS and emphasize the importance of SEP studies which are practical and cost effective laboratory methods for detecting medula spinalis involvement in patients without clinical history.