Article
The value of electronystagmography (ENG) and brainstem electric response audiometry (BERA) in early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
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Published: | April 24, 2006 |
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, debilitating disease characterized by multiple areas of local demyelination that occur at different times throughout the white matter of the central nervous system (CNS). MS is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission of symptoms.Such a highly variable clinical presentation contributes to the difficulty in making an early, accurate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
A diagnosis is important, because it can identify a course of treatment.
The purpose of this study is to determine if using electronystagmography (ENG) and brainstem electric response audiometry (BERA) will elicite a pattern of responses that would suggest the possibility of MS during differential diagnosis of a patient with dysequilibrium. Thirty patients with clinically definite MS were tested with ENG and BERA to find out specific patologic findings for MS.
The BERA showed prolonged latencies, abnormalities in ENG: eye tracking test with saccades, mostly hyperreflexion on caloric testing and imperfect visual supresion.