SERIAL EVOKED-POTENTIALS IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS BOUTS - RELATION TO STEROID TREATMENT

Serial recordings of multimodal sensory (visual, acoustic and somatose nsory) evoked potentials were made in 19 relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis patients enrolled in a clinical trial designed to evaluate t he efficacy of dexamethasone versts high- and low-dose methylprednisol one in acute multiple sclerosis bouts. electrophysiological and clinic al evaluations were performed at the onset of therapy and until 6 mont hs after the end of treatment. Using an arbitrary Evoked Potentials sc ore that takes into account both latency and waveform alterations, we found a positive correlation between evoked potentials and clinical di sability scores. Furthermore, different electrophysiological profiles were detected in the three therapeutic subgroups. Evoked potentials ma y be useful for monitoring acute Multiple Sclerosis bouts and evaluati ng the effect of therapy.