Pudendal Somatosensory Evoked Potential in Korean Women: Reference Values

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To obtain reference values of early potential latency and amplitude of pudendal SEP in Korean normal women and to correlate those values with height and age. METHOD: Twenty-three normal female with mean age of 45.27 years were evaluated for pudendal SEP. Stimulation was applied on the dorsal aspect of the clitoris with a bar electrode. Onset, P1, N1, P2 latencies and P0-P1, P1-N1, N1-P2 amplitudes were measured and those of both sides were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean latency of P0, P1, N1, P2 were 29.0+/-2.83 msec, 35.5+/-2.91 msec, 45.1+/-4.10 msec, 56.3+/-5.20 msec by the right pudendal nerve, and 28.6+/-3.11 msec, 35.2+/-2.93 msec, 45.0+/-3.83 msec, 56.5+/-5.33 msec by the left pudendal nerve. The amplitude ranges of P0-P1, P1-N1, N1-P2 were 0.31~2.45 uV, 0.11~2.24 uV, 0.21~2.62 uV by the right pudendal nerve, and 0.29~2.46 uV, 0.25~2.21 uV, 0.12~5.07 uV by the left pudendal nerve. There was tendency of prolongation of the latency with increasing the height. There is no difference of amplitude according to the height and the age. There was no significant difference between right and left sides in mean latency and range of amplitude of pudendal nerve SEPs, and between premenopause and postmenopause. CONCLUSION: Normal reference of female pudendal SEP were established. We suggest that pudendal SEP can be used as one of useful diagnostic tools for female urogenital and neurologic disease.