BRAIN-STEM AUDITORY-EVOKED POTENTIALS - EFFECTS OF OVARIAN-STEROIDS CORRELATED WITH INCREASED INCIDENCE OF BELLS-PALSY IN PREGNANCY

To investigate the effect of ovarian steroids on the brain stem during changes of estrogen and progesterone blood levels, we recorded brain stem auditory evoked potentials with increased stimulus rates from 26 women treated for sterility by menotropins (Pergonal and Metrodin), Th ese women were divided into three groups according to their estrogen a nd progesterone blood levels. The brain stem auditory evoked potential results revealed a significant delay of peak III only with an increas ed stimulus rate in the group with the highest estrogen level, Estroge n may cause a brain stem synaptic impairment, presumably because ct is chemic changes, and thus also may be responsible for a higher incidenc e of Bell's palsy during pregnancy.