Peripheral Neuro Electrodiagnostic Abnormalities in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to affect essentially the central nervous system; however, peripheral nerve involvement, as an additional cause of disability, has been recently noticed. Objectives: This study was aimed to perform detailed electrodiagnostic assessments in MS patients to evaluate peripheral nervous system involvement. Materials and Methods: A total of eighty MS patients were evaluated for probable peripheral nerves involvement in a cross sectional study from August 2012 to August 2013.Patients with evidence of radiculopathy, diabetes, uremia, and anemia or cobalamin deficiency had been excluded. Clinical disability was ascertained by applying Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score. All electrodiagnostic assessment was performed by a single expert operator. Demographic parameters and paraclinical findings including MRI plaques were recorded. The data were analyzed in SPSS version 19applying the paired t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: The sural nerves showed the most consistent finding of abnormal conduction velocity (30%). The most frequent amplitude disturbance was observed in the peroneal nerves (10%). We did not find a significant association between abnormal findings and EDSS or MRI plaques (p < 0.05). Patients with raised latency of the sensory nerves were younger than those with normal figures (p < 0.05). Also, patients with prolonged disease were more likely to show peripheral nerve disturbances (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Peripheral nerve involvement was seen in MS patients, without significant relationship with physical disability and MRI plaques. On the other hand, disease duration, age and male gender were associated with peripheral nerve abnormalities.