| Title | Vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in the evaluation of schistosomal myeloradiculopathy. | | Author(s) | Felipe L, Gonçalves DU, Tavares MC, Sousa-Pereira SR, Antunes CM, Lambertucci JR | | Institution | Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical e Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina e Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. | | Source | Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009 Oct; 81(4):551-4. | | MeSH | Adult
Aged
Evoked Potentials, Motor
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuroschistosomiasis
Young Adult
| | Abstract | Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy (SMR) is the most severe and disabling form of schistosomiasis. The diagnosis is based on clinical, laboratory, and image data. Vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is a neurophysiologic test that assesses the vestibulospinal pathway through acoustic or galvanic stimuli. The aim of this study was to evaluate cervical spinal abnormalities in patients with SMR. Fifty-two subjects were evaluated, of whom 29 had SMR and 30 did not (normal control). Normal VEMP was observed in all volunteers without SMR. Abnormal VEMP was recorded in 34% of the group with SMR. After treatment, abnormal VEMP was found in 80% of those with persistent neurologic abnormalities. VEMP is a functional test, and the alteration may precede image abnormalities. This procedure may be useful for early diagnosis of schistosomal cervical spinal cord involvement. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
| | PubMed ID | 19815864 |
|
