Investigation of vestibular function in patients with vestibular neuritis

Abstract

To optimize the diagnostic algorithm for vestibular neuritis based on an assessment of the sensitivity of clinical methods for studying vestibular function in the recovery period of the disease. A comprehensive assessment of the sensitivity of clinical methods for the study of vestibular function in the acute (up to 14 days: at the time of initial treatment, on the 7th and 14th day) and subacute (up to 3 months: on the 28th and 90th day) periods of the disease in 52 patients with upper vestibular neuritis was carried out. The timing of the processes of restoration of vestibular function after a transferred vestibular neuritis is individual: after 14 days, restoration of vestibular function was recorded in 52% (n=27) patients, after 1 month - in 62% (n=32), after 3 months - in 71% (n=37) patients with upper vestibular neuritis. Statocoordination, statokinetic, oculomotor tests under visual control have the highest sensitivity in the acute period of vestibular neuritis, within up to 7 days from the onset of symptoms. In the subacute period of vestibular neuritis, the study of spontaneous nystagmus and nystagmus in the head shaking test retains high sensitivity only when using special tools (Frenzel goggles or videonystagmography). A decrease in the sensitivity of the head rotation test and the dynamic visual acuity test in the subacute period of vestibular neuritis is associated with the processes of central compensation and the formation of a latent saccade. The sensitivity of clinical tests in patients with vestibular neuritis depends on the timing of the examination.