The contribution of multifocal visual evoked potentials in patients with optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis: a review.

PURPOSE: To review the evidence on the usefulness of the multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) test in patients with optic neuritis (ON) and/or multiple sclerosis (MS).

METHODS

We critically review key published evidence on the use of mfVEP in ON/MS patients and its association with other functional and structural tests.

RESULTS

Multifocal VEP tests are useful in detecting abnormality in patients with ON/MS and monitor the progression of lesions (remyelination, atrophy). In addition, mfVEP has good correlation with conventional visual evoked potential (VEP), standard automated perimetry, optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In patients with ON, mfVEP might be useful in predicting the risk of conversion to MS.