Electronystagmographic Findings in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Fifty MS cases were studied both clinically and by neuro-otological methods. MS diagnosis was verified using both Schumacher's criteria and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings. Seventy-two per cent of the subjects were studied within the first 3 years after the appearance of the first possible anamnestic symptoms of the disease. Only 5 of the patients had suffered from MS for more than 13 years. Special emphasis was paid to those cases which came in for study at a relatively early stage of the disease. Either spontaneous or positional nystagmus was found in 60% of all cases. No significant hearing disturbances were found in our material. The present results suggest that electronystagmography and other neuro-otological techniques provide a valuable aid in the early differential diagnosis of MS because of their sensitivity and the close relationship between predilection sites of MS and those structures which contribute to the maintenance of balance.