engleski

R-Treshold of Quick Nystagmic Component in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

The aim of this study was to define the changes in the R-threshold of the quick nystagmic component in multiple sclerosis patients. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, debilitating disease characterized by multiple areas of focal demyelination that develop throughout the white matter of the central nervous system at varyng times. Most patients report disequilibrium at some point in the course of their disease. The electronystagmogram evaluates eye movements, inner ear function, brainstem function and cerebellar function. Besides peripheral vestibular impairments, electronystagmography enables detecting of a central vestibular impairment. Previous studies suggested some nystagmus abnormalities in MS patients, such as centrifugal nystagmus and negative or absent fixational supression. The measurement of R-threshold of quick nystagmic component provides a source of data on the function of prepontic reticular formation, vestibule nuclei, and sorrounding areas. The myelination and maturation of the central nervous system lead to a decrease in the R-threshold. Therefore, using this parameter it is possible to obtain specific data on the subject˘s neural age. Ten patients with definite MS were tested. The results pointed to an increase in R-threshold in comparison with healthy subjects of same age. Conclusion: our study showed that the R-threshold of the quick nystagmic component may be a good indicator of vestibular demyelination in multiple sclerosis patients.

multiple sclerosis; vestibular function; electronystagmography; nystagmus

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