[Pathogenetic mechanisms and neurophysiological diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia].

58 patients with trigeminal nerve neuralgia (TNN) were examined in terms of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). The increase of latence as well as the decrease of contra- and ipsilateral SSEP components amplitude were observed in the interval N13-P45. Either bylateral hypersynchronization or desynchronization of SSEP were observed at affect side of face during TNN paroxismal period. It was believed that both variations of entrance of two currents of impulses which had been caused either by face electrostimulation or by pathological trigeminal irritation in brain cortex. The structural defect of trigeminal radix was considered to be the primary pathogenetic factor which became the cause of constant additional impulsation. The irritation processes became as a result the dominant ones in trigenal system forming in turn the generator of pathological increased irritation in nucleus complex mainly. The conclusion was made that dynamic SSEP investigations promoted to make more precise the damage localization as well as to estimate more objectively trigeminal hypperactivity in patients with TNN.