Objective
To investigate the relationship between National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and motor evoked potential (MEP) after stroke, measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Method: Forty six subjects with the middle cerebral artery ischaemic/hemorrhagic stroke were examined with NIHSS and TMS. According to the responsiveness of MEP in the affected muscles, subjects were divided into 2 groups: Group I consisted of 26 subjects responsive to TMS of the affected hemisphere and group II, 20 subjects unresponsive to TMS. NIHSS score was expressed as a sum of NIHSS total score, NIHSS arm and leg subscore. Results: The resting motor threshold (rMT) and the ampli-tude of MEP in group I were 75.1% and 13.5 uV, respectively. Although NIHSS leg subscore was no statistical difference between two groups, NIHSS total score and NIHSS arm subscore in group I were statistically lower than those in group II. In group I, the rMT had a correlation with NIHSS total score and NIHSS arm subscore (r=0.39, r=0.49, p＜0.05), but did not with NIHSS leg subscore (r=0.07, p＞0.05). Conclusion: The NIHSS has relationship with cortical neurophysiological changes in the affected cerebral cortex in stroke. Therefore, it would be a useful tool to evaluate the status of motor function of hemiplegic stroke. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2005; 29: 563-567)
