Abstract

Background The precise timings of evoked potentials in evaluating the functional outcome of stroke have remained indistinct. Few studies in the Indian context have studied the outcome of early prognosis of stroke utilizing evoked potentials. Objective The aim of this study was to determine somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs), their timing and abnormalities in acute ischemic stroke involving the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory and to correlate SSEP and BAEP with the functional outcome (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin scale (mRS) and Barthels index) at 3 months. Methods MCA territory involved acute ischemic stroke patients ( n = 30) presenting consecutively to the hospital within 3 days of symptoms onset were included. Details about clinical symptoms, neurological examination, treatment, NIHSS score, mRS scores were collected at the time of admission. All patients underwent imaging of the brain and were subjected to SSEP and BAEP on two occasions, first at 1 to 3 days and second at 4 to 7 days from the onset of stroke. At 3 months of follow-up, NIHSS, mRS, and Barthels index were recorded. Results P37 and N20 amplitude had a strong negative correlation (at 13 and 47 days) with NIHSS at admission, NIHSS at 3 months, mRS at admission, and mRS at 3 months and a significant positive correlation with Barthels index ( p <0.0001). BAEP wave V had a negative correlation (at 13 and 47 days) with NIHSS at admission, NIHSS at 3 months, mRS at admission, and mRS at 3 months and a positive correlation with Barthels index ( p < 0.0001). Conclusion SSEP abnormalities recorded on days 4 to 7 from onset of stroke are more significant than those recorded within 1 to 3 days of onset of stroke; hence, the timing of 4 to 7 days after stroke onset can be considered as better for predicting functional outcome.