Abstract

Visual (VEPs) and somatosensory (SEPs) evoked potentials were recorded in a group of 20 patients (8 females, 12 males) at the age of 19-69 years (mean age 41 years) with Hodkin's disease (HD) without CNS involvement. VEPs were recorded over visual cortex, while right and left eye were stimulated with the reversal checkerboard pattern. Latency and amplitude of visual evoked response (P100) were estimated. SEPs were obtained with the subsequent stimulation of median nerve at the wrist level. Latency of responses recorded over the 7th cervical vertebre (C7) and somatosensory cortex contralateral to stimulation were analysed. Central conduction time (C7 - cortex) was also estimated. In comparison to the group of 40 controls, statistically significant prolongation of mean latencies of VEPs and SEPs were found in the group of HD patients. Transit time to cortex was normal. The obtained results indicate moderate impairment of conduction within visual and somatosensory input in HL patients. These disturbances may be the electrophysiologic expression of subclinical paraneoplastic syndrome.
key words: Hodkin's disease • visual evoked potentials • somatosensory evoked potentials • syndroma paraneoplasticum

Keywords: Hodkin, visual evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials, syndroma paraneoplasticum