The Role of Short Latency Somatosensory Evoked Responses in Infants with Rapidly Progressive Ventricular Dilatation*

L. S. De Vries; V. Pierrat; T. Minami; M. Smet; P. Casaer

doi:10.1055/s-2008-1071480

Neuropediatrics, Table of Contents

Neuropediatrics 1990; 21(3): 136-139
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1071480

Original article

The Role of Short Latency Somatosensory Evoked Responses in Infants with Rapidly Progressive Ventricular Dilatation*

L. S. De Vries¹ , V. Pierrat¹ , T. Minami¹ , M. Smet² , P. Casaer¹

¹Department of Paediatric Neurology, Katholieke Universiteit, B-3000 Leuven
²Department of Paediatric Radiology, Katholieke Universiteit, B-3000 Leuven

* This study is supported by a grant from The Medical Research Council, Belgium (PGWO) and by a grant from the Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium.

Abstract

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Abstract

The effect of hydrocephalus on somatosensory evoked potentials was studied in nine infants. An increase in N1 latency was found in five infants studied longitudinally during a period of progressive ventricular dilatation. A marked decrease in N1 latency was noted in 7 infants, within one week following shunt insertion and in two infants who showed spontaneous arrest of ventricular growth. A correlation was found between cerebrospinal fluid pressure and the delay in N1 latency, but the number of infants studied is still small.

SEPs appear to be a useful additional test when assessing infants with progressive ventricular dilatation. Once a baseline value for N1 has been obtained following shunt insertion, SEPs may subsequently be useful when assessing a child with possible shunt dysfunction.

Key words

Hydrocephalus, newborn - Intracranial pressure - Somatosensory evoked responses (SEP) - Progressive ventricular dilatation

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