DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.017

Pages: 1117-1120

Auditory evoked potential testing serves as a non-invasive clinical tool in the characterization of the electrophysiological phenomena of neural excitation, conduction and transmission across auditory pathways. The electrophysiological correlation of changes in sensory function in primary hypertension has already been studied in terms of effects of SBP and DBP on waves of auditory brainstem responses (ABR). In the present study, the correlation of MAP and PP with ABR was observed to explore the possible interaction of cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms with the auditory pathway at brainstem levels. BAEPs recordings were performed on 50 known hypertensives (WHO Guidelines ) aged between 40-60 years of either sex attending Medical OPD of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar along with 50 age- and sex-matched normotensive controls, using EEG electrodes on an RMS EMG, EP MARC II (PCbased) machine. The data were statistically analysed by way of independent t-test and regression analysis and assessed by Levene’s test for equality of variance. Auditory threshold increased significantly in the hypertensive group compared with controls (p < 0.05). There was a significant prolongation of absolute peak latencies of waves I, and V and inter peak latency III-V in the hypertensive group. However, no significant difference was observed in other parameters of BAEPs. We established a highly significant correlation of rise in MAP with absolute peak latency of wave V and inter peak latency III-V along with a significant positive correlation of elevated pulse pressure with inter peak latency III-V. These findings suggest that central vasomotor control system interacts with generator of wave V of the ABRs in the midbrain region in delaying the absolute peak latency of this wave in primary hypertension.