Autonomic evoked potential indices in children with cerebellar tumors

Abstract

Background: The cerebellum is an important cerebral structure in autonomic homeostasis maintenance. In patients with cerebellar tumors following the dislocation of brain structures, various autonomic disorders occur, including suprasegmental disorders. The aim was to study the indices of autonomic evoked potentials, at the stimulation of the left and right hand in patients with cerebellar tumors. Material and methods: There were studied 15 healthy children and 36 pediatric patients with cerebellar tumors: left hemisphere (LH) – 15; vermis (VE) – 11; right hemisphere (RH) – 10. To record the evoked autonomic potentials, there was used NeuroMEP complex (Neurosoft). The latent period (LP, s) and the maximum amplitude of the autonomic response (Amax, mV) were analyzed. The statistical veracity (p) was calculated in comparison with healthy children. Results: Autonomic indices when stimulating the left hand were: RH lesion – LP = 1.44 ± 0.19 s, Amax – 3.01 ± 0.12; LH lesion – LP = 1.33 ± 0.009, Amax – 2.80 ± 0.13 (p < 0.01); VE lesion – LP = 1.35 ± 0.04 (p < 0.01), Amax – 2.56 ± 0.15 (p < 0.001). Healthy children – LP – 1.54 ± 0.05, Amax – 3.40 ± 0.15. Autonomic indices when stimulating the right hand were: RH lesion – LP = 1.39 ± 0.11, Amax – 2.65 ± 0.1 (p < 0.05), LH lesion – LP – 1.44 ± 0.13, Amax – 3.15 ± 0.21, VE lesion – LP – 1.32 ± 0.04 (p < 0.005), Amax – 2.60 ± 0.009 (p < 0.01). Healthy children – LP – 1.49 ± 0.006, Amax – 3.37 ± 0.22. Conclusions: In children with cerebellar tumors, there was observed a generalized autonomic deficit in the vermis lesion and mainly homolaterally in the lesion of the cerebral hemispheres. Injury of the vermis, as opposed to lesions of the hemispheres, is manifested with a decrease in the conduction velocity of the nerve impulses, through the autonomic pathways.