PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS IN STROKE PATIENTS - SOMATOSENSORY AND MOTOR EVOKED-POTENTIALS AND SYMPATHETIC SKIN-RESPONSE

A prospective 3-month follow-up examination was carried out in 12 pati ents with supratentorial stroke. Motor evoked potentials (MEP), somato sensory evoked potentials (SEP) and sympathetic skin responses (SSR) w ere performed 1-7 days, 30 days and 3 months after stroke. The functio nal outcome measured by a daily activity index (Barthel index) was ass essed 3 months after the stroke. There was a significant correlation b etween SEP and MEP results obtained for the first week and recovery of sensation and motility 3 months later. When initially normal, motor p otentials evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation had a significan t predictive value for long-term functional outcome, whereas SEP and S SR did not. SSR present at the initial stage was correlated with the s tate of consciousness.