P36-F Neurophysiological assessment of cognitive functions in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background Cognitive dysfunction concerns about 40–75% of subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the study was to check the usefulness of neurophysiological examinations in assessment of cognitive functions in patients with MS. Material and methods 61 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 21 healthy volunteers participated in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: A - 30 patients with short disease duration (time from first symptoms was less than 5 years); and B - 31 patients with long disease duration (time from first symptoms was more than 10 years). Neurophysiological tests were performed in all patients: event related potential (P300), somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), visual evoked potentials (VEP). In addition, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale subscales (Lacks in Pictures and Symbols of Digits) were done. Results In patients with MS the mean latencies of P100, P23 and P300 were significantly longer than compared to controls. Prolongation of P300 was associated with worse education. Patients with longer disease duration had tendency to have longer latencies of P300. An association was found between results of psychometric tests and event-related potential P300. Conclusions Event related potential (P300) is useful in clinical practice to assess cognitive functions in MS patients.