Abstract

 

In 10 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 20 normal control subjects, sympathetic skin res/tonse (SSR) were recorded from both the palms and soles by electrical stimuli to the median ner>e at the wrist. The SSR was present in all limbs of all normal subjects. Pathological responses in I or more limbs were recorded in 6 patients (II extremities) with MS. A’a significant relationship between pathological of SSRs and spinothalamic tract dejicit. corticospinal tract deficit, brainstem deficit and neurogenic bladder deficit was obsen’ed. The abnormality of SSRs correlated significantly with the abnormality of somatosensory evoked potentials (p 0.03). Good correlation betweeen the number of pathological SSRs and the severity of the disability (r 0. 82. p 0.003) caused by MS was obsen’ed. These results suggest that SSR is a valuable test for in I he assessment of autonomic involvement in MS. /Journal of Turgut Özal Medical Center I (4):268- 2~I. I994j

Key Words: Multiple sclerosis, sympathetic skin response, autonomic involvement