The sensitivity of multimodal evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis. A comparison with magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Since magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proved to be a valuable method in assessing multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, some studies have aimed at comparing the sensitivities of MRI, multimodality evoked potentials (MEPs) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis for oligoclonal banding, with somewhat conflicting results. It is suggested that these differences can be largely explained by the criteria used for patient incorporation, on the one hand, and by the way of recording MEPs, on the other. This hypothesis is confirmed by the present study which shows that, when only patients with definite MS are selected, and with optimal conditions of MEP recording (norms adapted to patient parameters, use of several spatial frequencies, combined stimulation of median and posterior tibial nerves), the sensitivities of MRI, MEPs and CSF are high and do not significantly differ from each other.