Objective:
We aimed to establish the utility of long-latency reflex (LLR) examinations and area measurements of corpus callosum (CC) in the assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and determination of disability caused by axonal degeneration.
Methods:
This study was prospectively conducted with 23 MS patients with “definite MS” and a control group of 15 healthy individuals. Neurologic examination of the control group and MS patients were performed, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were estimated. LLR examination and callosal area measurements were performed for all individuals.
Results:
In the MS group, LLR latencies were longer and callosum areas were smaller than that in the control group. There were no significant correlations between CC area and latency, latency difference, or amplitude in the MS group (p=0.606, p=0.736, and p=0.757, respectively). In the MS group, we found a significant correlation between EDSS and CC area. There was a significant negative correlation between the duration of disease and corpus callosum area (p=0.016). Only patients with mild deficits were included in this study, and nearly half the patients had normal LLR tests and corpus callosum area measurements. Therefore, the probability of finding a significant correlation between them was low. These findings revealed the need for other studies that would be performed with more patients.
Conclusion:
Long-latency reflex examination and CC area measurements may be used together or alone for the evaluation of patients with MS and for the estimation of disability as safe and easy tests.
Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, evoked potentials, corpus callosum, magnetic resonance imaging