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What else can cause abnormal VEP?

So far on this diagnostic journey I have:

-left-sided hypereflexia, Babinskis, clonus, papilledema in right eye
-normal B12, negative Lyme, positive ANA (then negative DNA, but positive histone, but PCP said she didn't think any the drugs I'm taking now could cause Drug Induced Lupus so it could be a fluke?)

Both MRIs (brain, c and t spine) came back clear by radiologist, though there were various things in my spine MRI that I thought could contribute to my symptoms (mild cervical spondylosis, multiple hemangiomas near T4, mild disc bulge here and there).

So, I assumed MS was off the table, but heard from my neurologists yesterday that I had a mildly abnormal VEP response in my left eye. I asked if my doc needed any other tests before my appointment to discuss results in 14th and she said no.

How important is this VEP test? What are the possible causes of a mildy abnormal result in one eye? I tried looking these things up on the Internet, but couldn't find a whole lot.

Any thoughts would be appreciated! :)
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739070 tn?1338603402
Hi and welcome!

A mildy abnormal VEP test can be caused by eye movement during the test according to one of the former /inactive members of this frum who specialises in eye disorders. I asked her the same question when mine came back mildy abnormal.

The answer by idntknow is accurate about what the test is designed to evaluate.

Ren
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Avatar universal
Thank you all for your responses! It means a lot. And yes, I guess all I can do now is wait and see what my neurologist says on the 14th- I'll be sure to let you all know.

Thanks, again! Hope you all are doing well! :)
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to our little MS community,

You mentioned having a diagnosis of unilateral Papilledema, which is swelling of the optic nerve in your right eye, and it would seem that this swelling of the optic nerve would be evident on a VEP test, so it's possible the Papilledema could account for your VEP results.

Unfortunately, for a young women of 24 who has clinical signs of unilateral hypereflexia, Babinskis, clonus, unilateral optic disc abnormality (papilledema?), neurological conditions like MS would be fairly high on your list of possible causes but due to your spinal evidence this could potentially be an alternative explanation from what i understand.

At this stage it would probably be in your best interest to wait and see what your neurologist's opinion is going to be, the net can take you all over the shop and it can end up more frustrating than actually helpful.....

Cheers.......JJ    
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
No test rules MS in or out it just helps to fill in the picture. A mildly abnormal VEP is nothing to worry about. The main eye conditions in MS are double vision and optic neuritis. The MRI would show if you ever had Optic Neuritis.

If your VEP were more abnormal they would send you to a Neuro opthalmologist. I was sent there and said my life time double vision was caused by MS. I had not been diagnosed yet. They were leaning towards MS. She looked at the back of my eye and found I had never had Optic Neuritis.

Alex
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Avatar universal
I never took a VEP test in my Diagnosis.

From what I understand I the VEP tests are administered to measure the effects to the brain has to stimulus. Its used to help determine if there are problems with the nerve pathways from the part of the body being tested  to the brain.
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