SHORT-LATENCY SOMATOSENSORY-EVOKED POTENT IALS AND SYMPTOMATIC RESPONSE TO DOPAMINERGIC MEDICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Short latency somatosensory evoked potentials were measured in 10 pati ents with Parkinson's disease before and after the administration of A pomorphine 5 mg sc. Eight of these subjects were reassessed after one month of treatment with Levo-dopa. These potentials were measured in o ther nine subjects before and after one month of treatment with Selegi line 10 mg od. There was a significant increase of frontal potential N 30 in nine of 10 subjects that received apomorphine, in seven of eight patients treated with Levo-dopa and seven of nine patients treated wi th Selegiline. No changes in N20 parietal potential were observed. Dur ing apomorphine test, changes in N30 potential preceded clinical impro vement in six patients and occurred simultaneously in three patients. No changes with apomorphine in N30 potential were observed in two heal thy males. There was no relationship between electrophysiological chan ges and duration of disease or motor fluctuations. It is concluded tha t short latency somatosensory evoked potentials are an objective means of measuring dopaminergic response in patients with Parkinson's disea se.