Abnormalities of fast-, middle-, long-latency auditory evoked potentials (0-400 ms) in Multiple Sclerosis

A group of 20 normally hearing patients suffering from defined multiple sclerosis (MS) underwent a simultaneous recording of fast-, middle-, slow latency auditory evoked potentials (FMS). Abnormalities of fast potentials (0-10 ms) were found in one half of patients. Abnormalities of middle and slow components (10-400 ms) were found in 90% of patients. Out of 12 cases with normal or border-line fast potentials, 9 of them provided a definitely abnormal pattern of middle and slow latency potentials. Taking altogether FMS results yield a 95% identification rate of MS patients. Among the middle and slow latency potentials, remarkable abnormalities were most frequentely observable in the latency range of Nv-P1-N1 components (30-60 ms).