[Brainstem lesion in multiple sclerosis, blink reflex, and brainstem auditory evoked potentials].

Abstract

Blink reflex (BR) and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were recorded from 168 patients with several diagnostic categories of multiple sclerosis, from which 98 complained brainstem symptoms (BSS+). From the whole group, the BR showed a higher degree of abnormality (45.75%) than BAEP (27.95). This range increased in the group BSS+ (52.15% for the BR and 34.9% for the BAEP) and even more when sings or symptoms of brainstem were present at the time of exploration (BSS+P) 60.4% for the BR and 41.3% for BAEP. Among patients who never complained brainstem symptoms, the BR disclosed a subclinical lesion in the 33.3% and the BAEP in the 16.9%. The combination of BR and BAEP were more useful than an isolated test. The localization of the lesion both clinically and in the BR were mostly on the pons. Light correlation between the presence of isolated or multiple symptoms and the disorder in the BR were present. Facial myokymia and internuclear ophthalmoplegia were most often associated with disorder in the BR, in both, the commonest localization was on the pons, and in the former about the motor nucleus of the facial nerve.