Effect of steady hypothermia and normothermia on multimodality evoked potentials in human poikilothermia

• Published in: Archives of neurology (Chicago) Vol. 52; no. 1; p. 52
• Main Authors: MacKenzie, M A, Vingerhoets, D M, Colon, E J, Pinckers, A J, Notermans, S L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-1995
• Subjects: Adult; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Brain - physiopathology; Evoked Potentials; Female; Humans; Hypothermia - physiopathology; Neural Conduction; Peripheral Nerves - physiology; Peripheral Nerves - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0003-9942
• DOI: 10.1001/archneur.1995.00540250056013

To assess the effects of steady-state spontaneous hypothermia on multimodality evoked potentials and on peripheral nerve conduction in human poikilothermia.
Case series at a university hospital.
Four patients (four women, aged 28 to 37 years) with acquired poikilothermia.
Short-latency somatosensory, brain-stem auditory, and visual evoked potentials as well as motor and sensory peripheral nerve conduction velocity during steady-state spontaneous hypothermia and normothermia.
The marked latency prolongation of all evoked potentials and decreased peripheral nerve conduction velocity observed during steady-state spontaneous hypothermia (mean +/- SD core temperature, 33.5 +/- 0.3 degrees C) compared with normothermia (36.9 +/- 0.4 degrees C) agrees with previous findings during short-term induced hypothermia.
The unequivocal effect of sustained mild spontaneous hypothermia on evoked potentials and peripheral nerve conduction velocity underlines the importance of meticulous attention to even small alterations in core temperature in interpreting neurophysiological investigations.