J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1991 Mar;9(1):39-48.

A Study on Blink Reflex and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials in Brainstem Lesions

• Lee YH
• Suh CK
• Park YC

Abstract

This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of blink reflex(BR) and brainstem auditory evoked potential(BAEP) tests for the diagnosis of intrinsic and extribsic brainstem lesions and to observe the generator of blink reflex. BR and BAEP were recorded in 26 patierlts with various brainstern lesions(20 rnen and 6 women), arnong which were intrin sic brainstem lesions(12 pons, 6 rnedulla, 4 multilevel) and extrinsic brainstem lesions(3 cer ebellar hemisphere, 1 cerebellar verrnis) confirrned by neurological findings and CT or MRI lbe results were compared with those of age and sex rnatched normal control. Abnorrnal BR findings were detected in 16 cases(61.5%). There were significantly delayed in ipsilateral and contralateral late reflexes, and R /D ratios compared with those of norrnal control. In the abnorrnalities of BR according to sites of the lesions, early reflexes were significantly delayed in pontine and medullary lesions(p<0.01), and late reflexes were significantly delayed in all brainstem lesions compared with those of norrnal control(p<0.01). Abnorrnal BAEP findings were detected in 12 cases(46.2%). The absolute latencies of wave II, III, IV and V were significantly delayed in brainstem lesions cornpared with those of norrnal control(p<0.01). In the abnorrnalities of BAEP according to sites of the lesions, the re were significantly delayed in absolute latencies of wave m and IV in pontine lesion and of wave V in cerebellar lesion, and delayed in absolute latencies and interpeak latencies of all vwaves in multilevel brainstem lesion compared with those of norrnal control(p<0.01 or p<0. 05). In the results of 19 cases(7 pons, 5 medulla, 3 multilevel, 4 cerebellar) tested in acute stage(2 days to 2 weeks after attack) to observe the generator of blink reflex, early reflexes were rnainly delayed in pontine lesion(71%) and late reflexes were delayed in medullary lesion(80%).

MeSH Terms

Blinking*
Brain Stem*
Diagnosis
Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Pons
Reflex