Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential in Primary Hypertension

Arterial hypertension is a frequent worldwide health disorder prevalent in a large percentage of the population and has adverse effects on the brain throughout one’s lifespan. This study was undertaken to evaluate the BERA as potential markers of early nervous system damage in essential hypertension and also to correlate the changes if any, between blood pressure and BERA in patients with essential hypertension. In the present study, 30 patients of primary hypertension were examined along with a group of 30 normotensive individuals as controls. Primary hypertensive individuals, in the age range of 30-70 years were selected from hypertensive clinic and 30 controls selected from amongst the staff of college. All the subjects of the two groups then underwent BERA assessment test in the neurophysiology laboratory as per the procedure mentioned under the methodology. Mean values of BERA in the two groups of subjects compared, showed Prolongation of the absolute latencies of BAEP waves I and IV in hypertensive group compared to normotensive group showed statistically significant difference. The latencies of other absolute waves were also found to be prolonged but the statistical significance could not be established.