Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology

The Korean Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (대한임상신경생리학회)
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Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease

특발성 파킨슨병 환자의 전정유발근육전위

  • Lee, Seung Hwan (Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Kim, Kwang Ki (Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Kim, Sung Hun (Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Kangwon National University)
  • 이승환 (강원대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실) ;
  • 김광기 (강원대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실) ;
  • 김성훈 (강원대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실)
  • Published : 2005.12.30
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Abstract

Background: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) is closely related to Lewy body pathology. Pathological changes in medullar oblongata and pontine tegmentum have been reported in patients with subclinical motor symptom. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is mediated by vestibular nuclei in lower brainstem and reflects the function of lower brainstem. The purpose of our study is to estimate the lower brainstem function in IPD patients. Methods: Ten patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease underwent VEMP test. The patients were divided into Hohn-Yahr (H-Y) stage I (unilateral motor involvement) group and H-Y stage II or more severe (bilateral motor involvement) group. VEMP results were compared between groups using Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Among patients, 6 patients showed abnormal VEMP (unilateral abnormality 2, bilateral abnormalities 4). Between H-Y stage I group and H-Y II,III group, there was no statistical difference in the results of VEMP. Conclusions: We concluded that the lower brainstem dysfunction reflected in VEMP could occur in IPD regardless of the progression of the disease.

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