Evoked potentials in multiple system atrophy (MSA).

OBJECTIVES

To study the involvement of pyramidal tracts and sensory pathways in multiple system atrophy (MSA).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Evoked potential studies were performed in 45 MSA patients suffering from either MSA of cerebellar type (MSA-C) or MSA of parkinsonian type (MSA-P).

RESULTS

Motor evoked potentials were normal in all MSA patients, whereas visual and somatosensory evoked potential abnormalities were found in about 40% of the MSA patients with no significant difference between the cerebellar (MSA-C) and parkinsonian (MSA-P) subgroup. Abnormal latencies of wave III in brainstem auditory evoked potentials were significantly more frequent in MSA-C.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormalities of somatosensory, visual and auditory evoked potentials are frequent findings in MSA, whereas abnormal motor evoked potentials are not a characteristic feature of the disease.