Comparison of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with multiple sclerosis and normal individuals

Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP) is a new vestibular function test that assesses the vestibulospinal pathway.Although many studies have investigated different inner ear pathologies by using VEMP, the role of this test in brainstem pathologies and demyelinating processes of central nervous system is still remained to be defined and discussed.The aim of this study was to compare VEMP in multiple sclerosis patients and normal individuals.

We carried out a cross-sectional study in 21 patients (15 female, 6 male) fulfilling diagnostic criteria of clinically definite multiple sclerosis, and 20 normal individuals (15 female, 6 male). ages ranging from 17 to 50 years old.The VEMPs was recorded using 500 Hz short tone burst (STB). The p13 and n23 latencies and p13-n23 peak-to-peak amplitude were the studied parameters.

VEMP results were abnormal in 47.6% of patients. P13 latency and p13-n23 peak to peak amplitude in both ears showed significant difference between the two groups (p<0.05). P13 latency was delayed in 14 ears (of nine patients). VEMPs were unilaterally absent in two patients.

VEMPs thus represent a new method of the brainstem in multiple sclerosis disease. VEMP abnormalities in these patients might be due to impairment in vestibulocollic pathway.