Prediction of Motor Function by Motor Evoked Potentials in Patients with Intracerebral Hematoma

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 14(1); 1996 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1996;14(1): 61-68.

운동유발전위를 이용한 뇌내출혈 환자에서 운동기능 * 회복의 예측

한문구, 이광훈, 한현정, 정중택, 이상수, 한설희

충북대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Prediction of Motor Function by Motor Evoked Potentials in Patients with Intracerebral Hematoma

Moon Ku Han, M.D., Kwang Hoon Lee, M.D., Hyun Jeong Han, M.D., Joong Taek Chung, M.D., Sang Soo Lee,. M.D., Seol Heui Han, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital

Abstract

We monitored motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation to predict functional recovery of motor weakness after hemorrhage. We tried to elucidate the relationaship between suppression of MEPs and degrees of recovery in 20 patients with radiologically confirmed hypertenaive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) , who showed varying degrees of hemiparesis. Magnetic stimulation and assessment of motor weakness were carried out within 7 days after ictus and approximately 3 months after hemorrhage. We found little correlation between changes of latencies and outcome of motor function. The absence of MEPs in acute stage indicated absolutely poor recovery of muscle strength. The presence of MEPs in the same period in patients with complete hemiplegia predicted some recovery of motor function. The suppression of amplitude was more accurate than prolongation of latency in predicting the functional recovery. We concluded that the presence of MEPs in acute stage can provide early prediction of functional recovery of motor weakness. When MEPs are present, treatment should be aggressively employed to achieve maximal recovery of motor function in the extremities.