Intended for healthcare professionals

Research Article

Evoked potentials, saccadic velocities, and computerized tomography in diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Br Med J 1977; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.6072.1315 (Published 21 May 1977) Cite this as: Br Med J 1977;1:1315
  1. F L Mastaglia,
  2. J L Black,
  3. L A Cala,
  4. D W Collins

    Abstract

    One hundred and two patients with suspected or established multiple sclerosis (MS) were investigated by one or more of the following techniques: measurement of visual evoked potentials (VEP); measurement of cervical and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP); measurement of horizontal saccadic eye movement velocities (SV); and computerised axial tomography of the cranium and orbits (CT). Each of the techniques was valuable in detecting abnormalities, some of which were subclinical, in many patients. More abnormalities were found in patients studied by more than one technique, the most being detected in patients who were studied by all five techniques. We conclude that the techniques have a complementary role in investigating suspected MS.