J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1996 Mar;14(1):61-68.

Prediction of Motor Function by Motor Evoked Potentials in Patients with Intracerebral Hematoma

• Han MK
• Lee KH
• Han HJ
• Chung JT
• Lee SS
• Han SH

Abstract

We monitored motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation to predict functional recovery of motor weakness after hemorrhage. We tried to elucidate the relationaship between suppression of MEPs and degrees of recovery in 20 patients with radiologically confirmed hypertenaive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), who showed varying degrees of hemiparesis. Magnetic stimulation and assessment of motor weakness were carried out within 7 days after ictus and approximately 3 months after hemorrhage. We found little correlation between changes of latencies and outcome of motor function. The absence of MEPs in acute stage indicated absolutely poor recovery of muscle strength. The presence of MEPs in the same period in patients with complete hemiplegia predicted some recovery of motor function. The suppression of amplitude was more accurate than prolongation of latency in predicting the functional recovery. We concluded that the presence of MEPs in acute stage can provide early prediction of functional recovery of motor weakness. When MEPs are present, treatment should be aggressively employed to achieve maximal recovery of motor function in the extremities.

MeSH Terms

Cerebral Hemorrhage
Evoked Potentials, Motor*
Extremities
Hematoma*
Hemiplegia
Hemorrhage
Humans
Muscle Strength
Paresis
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation