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Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis pp 25–33Cite as

Neurophysiology

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Part of the book series: Topics in Neuroscience ((TOPNEURO))

Abstract

Neurophysiological methods, particularly evoked potentials (EPs), are widely employed in the functional assessment of multiple sclerosis (MS), since they provide a reliable, even though indirect, measure of the extent of demyelination or axonal loss in a given pathway. For this reason, they are used to define the involvement of sensory and motor pathways in the presence of vague disturbances, and to detect clinically silent lesions. The latter application of EPs has become greatly reduced since the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, which has a much higher sensitivity in detecting subclinical lesions. Nevertheless, the information provided by EPs is different from that provided by structural MRI techniques, since EPs are more strictly related to function. Disease severity assessed clinically well correlates with the extent of neurophysiological abnormalities [1,2]. Neurophysiological studies specifically aimed at characterizing the primary progressive (PP) form of MS, particularly with respect to secondary progressive MS (SPMS), are lacking. In this chapter, we discuss the rationale and applications of neurophysiological methods to the study of PPMS.

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Authors
  1. L. Leocani
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  2. G. Comi
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroimaging Research Unit Department of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Massimo Filippi

  2. Clinical Trials Unit Department of Neuroscience, Scientific Institute and University Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Giancarlo Comi

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© 2002 Springer-Verlag Italia, Milano

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Leocani, L., Comi, G. (2002). Neurophysiology. In: Filippi, M., Comi, G. (eds) Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Topics in Neuroscience. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2234-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2234-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2236-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2234-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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