Multimodal evoked potentials and heart-rate variability (HRV) measurements were performed in a total of 15 comatose patients with inflammatory diseases of the brain. The following potentials were recorded: Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), early (SSEP) and long latency (SEP) somatosensory evoked potentials and visual evoked potentials (VEP). The results of the initial BAEP recordings indicate that in 83% of the patients the IV-V interpeak latency was prolonged and out of the range of normal values. Additionally an atypical form of the IV-V wave complex was detected. The SSEP after electrical stimulation demonstrated pathological findings in 90% of the patients; long latency components after mechanical vibration could be identified only by 30%. The results of the VEP show an attenuation of vertex VEP (mean value: 43%). Heart-rate variability of the patients was calculated (mean +/- SD) to be 2.5 +/- 1.4% (norm: 7.8 +/- 2.5%) with a mean heart-rate of 95.2 +/- 16.6/min (norm: 67.8 +/- 10.7/min).