The pattern reversal visual evoked potential with checks of 14' and 28' was restropectivelly studied in 28 patients with definite multiple sclerosis. We observed abnormal responses in 27/28 (96.4%) patients, in 31/36 (86%) of symptomatic eyes, and in 16/20 (80%) of asymptomatic eyes. When we classified the abnormalities in each eye according to the findings obtained with each check, there was a correlation between the pattern of abnormalities and the severity of visual involvement. Occasionally there were isolated abnormalities of N75 or only in P100 obtained with 28' checks. In conclusion the methodology applied was very sensible in detecting abnormalities in visual pathway. We could classify the findings in each eye and correlate them with the severity of visual involvement. The findings showed uneven distribution of lesions in visual pathway, affecting preferentially the central vision afferents.
visual evoked potentials; multiple sclerosis