Sensitivity of eye movement registration and visual evoked potentials in evaluation of therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis

A major problem in the evaluation of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment protocols is the lack of an objective and reliable marker of disease activity. In 24 MS patients who were treated with high doses of intravenous methylprednisolone because of an acute relapse or progressive disease the clinical improvement (as measured by the Kurtzke expanded disability status scale) was compared with two paraclinical parameters, i.e. visual evoked potentials (VEP) and the registration of saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements. After treatment a significant clinical improvement was found in 50% of the patients. The registration of eye movements revealed a significant improvement in 83% of the patients, the VEP in 21%. It is demonstrated that especially the registration of eye movements can have an important application as an objective and sensitive method in the assessment of neurological functions during MS treatment protocols.