[Magnetic stimulation in the diagnosis of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems].

Magnetic stimulation of the cerebral cortex and roots CVI--CVII and LII--LIV was performed in 19 healthy subjects, 45 multiple sclerosis (MS), 21 lateral amyotrophic sclerosis and 24 demyelinating polyneuropathy patients. M-response of m. abductor digiti min (AdV) and m. tibialis ant. (TA) was registered. The difference of M-response latent time induced by the stimulation, CVI--CVII and LII--LIV determined the time of the impulse central conduction (ICC) to the corresponding roots. In healthy subjects ICC--C amounts to 8.28 +/- 1 ms (maximum 10.3 ms), ICC--S is equal to 14.6 +/- 1.46 ms (maximum 16.8 ms). In patients with the above affections increased ICC was a frequent finding which also occurred in subclinical pyramidal lesions.