Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) in the Evaluation of Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy

Felipe, Lilian; Gonçalves, Denise Utsch; Tavares, Maurício Campelo; Sousa-Pereira, Sílvio Roberto; Antunes, Carlos Maurício de Figueiredo; Lambertucci, José Roberto

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2009.09-0191

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(45 reference statements)

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“…After the GVS appliance, VEMP is captured from muscles of lower limbs through EMG, showing the reflex that crossed the entire neuro-axis, until the lumbar spinal segments. The evoked potential descends through the reticulospinal and the vestibulospinal tracts with similar velocity to the corticospinal tract and integrates motor and sensitivity information [ 12 – 14 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Triggered by Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS): A Promising Tool to Assess Spinal Cord Function in Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy

et al. 2016

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BackgroundSchistosomal myeloradiculopathy (SMR), the most severe and disabling ectopic form of Schistosoma mansoni infection, is caused by embolized ova eliciting local inflammation in the spinal cord and nerve roots. The treatment involves the use of praziquantel and long-term corticotherapy. The assessment of therapeutic response relies on neurological examination. Supplementary electrophysiological exams may improve prediction and monitoring of functional outcome. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) triggered by galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is a simple, safe, low-cost and noninvasive electrophysiological technique that has been used to test the vestibulospinal tract in motor myelopathies. This paper reports the results of VEMP with GVS in patients with SMR.MethodsA cross-sectional comparative study enrolled 22 patients with definite SMR and 22 healthy controls that were submitted to clinical, neurological examination and GVS. Galvanic stimulus was applied in the mastoid bones in a transcranial configuration for testing VEMP, which was recorded by electromyography (EMG) in the gastrocnemii muscles. The VEMP variables of interest were blindly measured by two independent examiners. They were the short-latency (SL) and the medium-latency (ML) components of the biphasic EMG wave.ResultsVEMP showed the components SL (p = 0.001) and ML (p<0.001) delayed in SMR compared to controls. The delay of SL (p = 0.010) and of ML (p = 0.020) was associated with gait dysfunction.ConclusionVEMP triggered by GVS identified alterations in patients with SMR and provided additional functional information that justifies its use as a supplementary test in motor myelopathies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Triggered by Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS): A Promising Tool to Assess Spinal Cord Function in Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy

et al. 2016

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“…Schistosomal myeloradiculopathy is endemic in many developing countries, including some areas of Brazil, and similarly to HAM/TSP the damage predominates at the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord level 25,29. The prognosis is better upon early treatment, and relapse is challenging because it can lead to worse sequelae 29,30. The results of the present study show that GVS can uncover subclinical HTLV-1 disease or relapse, and its implementation in clinical practice may therefore improve monitoring of the functional outcome of this disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contribution of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation for the Diagnosis of HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis

et al. 2013

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Background and PurposeGalvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is a low-cost and safe examination for testing the vestibulospinal pathway. Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a slowly progressive disease that affects the vestibulospinal tract early in its course. This study compared the electromyographic (EMG) responses triggered by GVS of asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected subjects and subjects with HAM/TSP.MethodsBipolar galvanic stimuli (400 ms and 2 mA) were applied to the mastoid processes of 39 subjects (n=120 stimulations per subject, with 60 from each lower limb). Both the short latency (SL) and medium latency (ML) components of the EMG response were recorded from the soleus muscles of 13 healthy, HTLV-1-negative adults (56±5 years, mean±SD), and 26 individuals infected with HTLV-1, of whom 13 were asymptomatic (56±8 years) and 13 had HAM/TSP (60±6 years).ResultsThe SL and ML EMG components were 55±4 and 112±10 ms, respectively, in the group of healthy subjects, 61±6 and 112±10 ms and in the HTLV-1-asymptomatic group, and 67±8 and 130±3 ms in the HAM/TSP group (p=0.001). The SL component was delayed in 4/13 (31%) of the examinations in the HTLV-1-asymptomatic group, while the ML component was normal in all of them. In the HAM/TSP group, the most common alteration was the absence of waves.ConclusionsA pattern of abnormal vestibular-evoked EMG responses was found in HTLV-1-neurological disease, ranging from delayed latency among asymptomatic carriers to the absence of a response in HAM/TSP. GVS may contribute to the early diagnosis and monitoring of nontraumatic myelopathies.

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“…In my view, this increased incidence refl ects the improvement in its diagnosis with the advent of new imaging techniques, particularly MRI and the progressive awareness of its importance [58][59][60][61][62] .…”

Section: Complications Of Hepatosplenic Schistosomiasismentioning

confidence: 99%

Revisiting the concept of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and its challenges using traditional and new tools

Lambertucci

2014

Rev. Soc. Bras. Med. Trop.

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Different aspects of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis are revisited here. Manson's schistosomiasis causes periportal fi brosis and portal hypertension in approximately 6% of infected subjects, usually with preservation of their hepatic function. The assessment of liver involvement is of major importance in determining the prognosis and risk of complications from schistosomiasis, such as upper digestive bleeding secondary to variceal rupture. For many years, the diagnosis of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and liver fi brosis was made by abdominal palpation and the fi nding of liver and/or spleen enlargement. However, there is no consensus regarding the clinical parameters of the liver and spleen to be considered in this physical evaluation. For the last three decades, abdominal ultrasound (US) has become the best imaging technique to evaluate liver fi brosis caused by schistosomiasis mansoni. However, US is a subjective procedure and is therefore examiner-dependent. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fi ndings have provided valuable information in addition to ultrasound and clinical examination. The combination of a comprehensive history and physical examination, basic laboratory tests (a stool examination for Schistosoma mansoni eggs and a blood cell count), biomarkers for liver fi brosis/portal hypertension and imaging methods seem to offer the best approach for evaluating patients with this disease. In situations where research is involved or in patients with severe disease, MRI may be considered.

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Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) in the Evaluation of Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy

Cited by 9 publications

References 18 publications

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Triggered by Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS): A Promising Tool to Assess Spinal Cord Function in Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy

Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (VEMP) Triggered by Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS): A Promising Tool to Assess Spinal Cord Function in Schistosomal Myeloradiculopathy

Contribution of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation for the Diagnosis of HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis

Revisiting the concept of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis and its challenges using traditional and new tools

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