Background
Vstibular evoked myogenic potentials VEMP) have been known to be useful documenting abnormality in patients with various vestibular disorders and brainstem lesions but the studies of VEMP in patients with hemispheric lesions are rare.
Methods
We recorded VEMP in 21 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke in the supratentorial lesions without evidence of brainstem or vestibular end organ lesions. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging and the main outcome measures of VEMP were recorded in all subjects. We interpreted each parameters of VEMP using our normal laboratory data.
Results
VEMP abnormalities(prolonged latency or asymmetry of amplitude) were found in 57%(12/21) of acute infarction patients with supratentorial lesions. Bilateral VEMP abnormalities were found in six patients and unilateral abnormalities were found in another six patients with ipsilateral abnormalitiesin the three and controlateral abnormalities in the three patients.
Conclusions
VEMP abnormalities were found in supratentorial stroke patients in our studies and this findings suggest supranuclear control may affect the generation of VEMP potentials.
