Preliminary study on the application of videonystagmograph in Chinese patients with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the characteristics of ocular movement disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO), and explore the clinical application of videonystagmograph (VNG) exami?nation in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MS. Methods Sixteen MS ,10 NMO and 30 control ( sudden deafness ) patients were enrolled prospectively. Ocular movement disorders including saccades, gaze fixation, smooth pursuits, opto?kinetic nystagmus and spontaneous nystagmus were evaluated by using VNG. Results The positive rate of ocular motility disorders in MS patients detected by VGN was 68.75%. The incidences of abnormalities in saccades, smooth pursuits and optokinetic nystagmus were significantly higher in MS than in control groups (P= 0.000, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). The positive rate of ocular motility disorders in NMO patients detected by VGN was 80.00%. The incidences of abnormal?ities in saccades, gaze fixation, smooth pursuits and optokinetic nystagmus were significantly higher in NMO than control groups (P=0.000, 0.012, 0.000 and 0.002, respectively). The positive rate of ocular motility disorders was not significant? ly different in MS and MS patients (68.5%vs. 80%,P>0.05). Compared with bedside physical examination, VNG showed a notable higher sensitivity in the detection of ocular motility disorders(68.75% vs. 37.50%). Furthermore, VNG disor?ders might indicate brain lesions undetected by MRI. Conclusion This small sample research indicates that VNG is a valuable tool in the detection of ocular motility disorders as well as brain lesions in MS and NMO patients. However, its role in the differential diagnosis between MS and NMO is not confirmed.