Bithermal Caloric Test Research Articles

Determination of Recovery by Total Restitution or Compensation Using Multifrequency Vestibular Tests and Subjective Functional Scales in a Human Model of Vestibular Neuritis.

Vestibular Neuritis (VN) can induce unilateral acute vestibular syndrome (AVS). This study aimed to identify predictive factors of recovery from vestibular neuritis considering total restitution and/or compensation. In this longitudinal study, 40 patients were included. The initial assessment, performed within 36 to 72 h from the onset (T0), included medical history taking (general and specific), including screening for cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), and a battery of diagnostic vestibular tests, comprising the bithermal caloric test (BCT), video head impulse test (VHIT), and skull vibration-induced nystagmus (SVIN) test. All patients also completed a Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). All assessments were repeated 90 ± 15 days later (T3). Subjective compensation criteria were based on the DHI total score, and objective compensation criteria were based on laboratory test results. Four groups of patients (A, B, C, D) were delineated by combining patients with normal vs. abnormal vestibular tests and patients with normal vs. abnormal DHI. CVRFs (but not age or body mass index (BMI)) were associated with a poorer recovery of symptoms. The BCT (lateral semicircular canal paresis %), VHIT (lateral semicircular canal gain), and SVINT (nystagmus slow phase velocity) recovered to normal values in 20%, 20%, and 27% of patients, respectively, at T3. Vascular risk factors (hypercholesterolemia) are correlated with patients who do not recover their symptoms via either total restitution or compensation. There was no significant difference between high- and low-frequency vestibular tests in patients recovering from their symptoms. Some patients with objective recovery may continue to have persistent subjective symptoms.

Bilateral Horizontal Canal Dysplasia Presenting as Hearing Loss With Recurrent Vertigo Mimicking Meniere's Disease.

We report an extremely rare case with bilateral horizontal semicircular canal (HSC) dysplasia presenting as hearing loss with recurrent vertigo mimicking Meniere's disease in a previously healthy 49-year-old male patient. HSC malformation is one of the common isolated developmental anomalies of the bony labyrinth usually associated with varying degree of hearing loss. He suffered from recurrent episodes of vertigo lasting more than 20 minutes accompanied by left hearing loss and tinnitus for 3 years. Pure-tone audiometry revealed a mild to moderate hearing loss at low frequencies in the left ear. Bithermal caloric testing revealed significant left-sided canal paralysis, but other vestibular testing was normal. Computerized tomography (CT) of the temporal bone showed the left HSC hypoplasia lacking a central bony island fused together with an enlarged vestibule, and right dysplasia, finally diagnosed with bilateral HSC dysplasia. Meniere's disease-like recurrent vertigo attack and hearing loss were suspected to be caused by subsequent endolymphatic hydrops which could be due to HSC dysplasia.

Contralateral Hearing Loss in Temporal Bone Fractures: A Potential Association with Combined Intracranial Injury.

Temporal bone (TB) fractures are frequently accompanied by intracranial injury. This study aimed to analyze combined intracranial injuries in relation to functional changes in the inner ear, including those of the contralateral ear, in patients with TB fractures. Ninety-four patients (mean age: 35.6 ± 18.7 years, M : F=67 : 27) diagnosed with unilateral TB fracture were included. Bone conduction (BC) threshold, word recognition score (WRS), and changes in vestibular function were compared based on intracranial injuries, focusing on the contralateral side. Various types of intracranial injuries were observed (67.9%). Among these, a significant association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and otic capsule-violating fractures was noted. The BC threshold on the fractured side significantly deteriorated in patients with TBI. Additionally, a significantly worse BC threshold was confirmed on the contralateral side in patients with TBI, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and contrecoup injury. The follow-up BC threshold did not improve or differ, regardless of high-dose steroid administration. The initial WRS and canal paresis in the bithermal caloric test were not significantly different in the presence of each intracranial injury. Concurrent fluctuations in the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid space and perilymphatic space were speculated to be the potential underlying mechanisms. A significantly worse BC threshold was confirmed on the contralateral side of patients with TBI, contrecoup injury, ICH, and on fracture sides of patients with TBI.

Multifrekvenční testování pacientů po akutním izolovaném vestibulárním deficitu

Summary Introduction: Acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUVP) is defined as an acute peripheral vestibular syndrome without evidence of central neurological or audiological symptoms. Currently, there is no uniform instrumental testing protocol for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with AUVP. Vestibular tests provide information in different frequency bands of the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR); therefore, the aim of our study is to evaluate the contribution of multifrequency VOR testing in the evaluation of patients with AUVP. Methods: 22 patients (9 females and 13 males) with a diagnosis of AUVP were prospectively examined. Multifrequency testing included spontaneous nystagmus with visual fixation cancellation (SPN), Head Shaking Test (HST), bithermal air caloric test, and video Head Impulse Test (vHIT). The first examination was performed within one week of AUVP; follow-up examinations were performed 3 and 6 months apart. On the third examination, the Dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) questionnaire was completed. Results: The rate of the slow component of spontaneous and induced nystagmus during HST and the values of unilateral weakness (UW) during caloric testing decreased during follow-up with a statistically significant difference (P <0.05) between both the first and second and between the second and third examinations. On vHIT, there was a statistically significant increase in the gains of individual channels during follow-up. Dissociation of vHIT and caloric test results was found in 22.73% of patients on the second and 18.18% of patients on the third examination. There was a statistically significant difference in the changes in test results of patients with different DHI. Conclusion: Multifrequency VOR testing provides a comprehensive overview of the status of vestibular function, recovery dynamics, and clinical impact of residual vestibular dysfunction after AUVP. Key words acute unilateral vestibulopathy – vestibuloocular reflex – video Head Impulse Test – caloric test – spontaneous nystagmus – Head Shaking Test

Kanıtlanmış Vestibüler ve İşitme Kaybı olan Meniere Hastalarında Supresyon Baş Savurma Paradigması (SHIMP) ve Video Baş Savurma Testinin (vHIT) Değerlendirilmesi

This study aimed to examine the results of the video head impulse test (vHIT), and suppression head impulse paradigm (SHIMP) in adult diagnosed with definite Meniere’s disease (MD). This study was conducted with 20 patients aged 18-45 years with canal paresis and sensorineural type hearing loss in symptomatic ears, who were diagnosed with unilateral definite MD. The subjects were assessed with conventional audiometry (0.125–8 kHz), the bithermal binaural air caloric test, vHIT, and SHIMP. The mean SHIMP vestibulo-ocular reflex (S-VOR) gain of the MD side was 0.69, and that of the healthy side was 0.77. The S-VOR gain values were statistically lower than the mean vHIT VOR gain (V-VOR) values on both sides (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the MD and healthy sides in terms of the anti-compensatory saccades (ACSs) latency and amplitude and S-VOR gain (p>0.05). In the MD group, the vHIT results were abnormal in 35% (7/20 ears) of the ears, and the SHIMP results were abnormal in 50% (10/20 ears). On the healthy side, the vHIT results were abnormal in 10% (2/20 ears) of the ears, and the SHIMP results were abnormal in 35% (7/20 ears). In this study, the V-VOR and S-VOR gains, vHIT saccades, SHIMP saccade latency, and SHIMP saccade amplitude were not found to be beneficial parameters in differentiating affected and healthy ears in the patients with MD. In other words, contrary to expectations, vHIT and SHIMP tests were not sufficient to detect pathological involvement in Meniere's disease.

Analysis of etiology and clinical features of spontaneous downbeat nystagmus: a retrospective study.

To investigate the topical diagnosis, possible etiology and mechanism of spontaneous downbeat nystagmus (sDBN) patients with dizziness/vertigo. The clinical features of dizziness/vertigo patients accompanied with DBN were retrospectively reviewed in the Vertigo Center of our hospital from January 2018 to March 2021. The clinical features of dizziness/vertigo patients accompanied with DBN were reviewed. Comprehensive VNG, bithermal caloric testing, video-head-impulse test (vHIT), vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP), head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), three-dimensional fluid-attenuated incersion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (3D-FLAIR MRI) in the inner ear, serum immunology and other examinations were to determine the lesion site, and analyze its possible etiology and mechanism. A total of 54 patients were included. Among them, 70.4% (n = 38) of DBN patients were diagnosed with episodic vestibular syndrome (EVS), 22.2% (n = 12) with chronic vestibular syndrome (CVS), and 7.4% (n = 4) with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS). Among all the patients, 51.9% of DBN patients had clear etiology, with central lesions of 29.6% and peripheral diseases of 22.2%. The most common diseases in DBN patients were cerebellar lesions (13.0%, n = 7) and vestibular migraine (13.0%, n = 7), followed by benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (7.4%, n = 4) and drug-related dizziness/vertigo (5.6%, n = 3). The other 48.1% of the patients had unknown etiology. 53.8% (14/26) of patients with idiopathic DBN had decreased semicircular canal function, with 42.9% (6/14) decreased posterior semicircular canal function. The posterior semicircular canal gain in DBN patients decreased compared to the anterior semicircular canal in the same conjugate plane. Patients with peripheral DBN were more prone to horizontal/torsional nystagmus during positional testing. In our study, DBN patients have a relative decrease in posterior semicircular canal gain, which is possibly a particular result found in a subset of downbeat nystagmus patients. The changes in nystagmus during positional testing may be helpful in distinguishing between peripheral and central causes.

Audiologic and vestibular assessment in children and adolescents with transfusion dependent beta thalassemia major: The era of deferasirox film coated tablet

BackgroundHearing impairment has frequently been described in β-thalassemia patients with a significant impact on the patients’ quality of life. Most studies provided evidence of deferoxamine (DFO) dose-related ototoxicity, however, the data is scarce regarding deferasirox (DFX) as a sole iron chelator. AimWe aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and vestibular dysfunction in regularly transfused β-thalassemia patients who had been treated with DFX film coated tablets. MethodsWe conducted a case control study on 57 transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients with a mean age of 15.3 years who received DFX FCT as monotherapy for at least one consecutive year, and 57 healthy age and sex-matching controls. Comprehensive audiological evaluations using pure tone audiometry (PTA) and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) as well as vestibular evaluation using Video-nystagmography (VNG) were done. ResultsSNHL was identified in 12 patients (21.1 %) using PTA and a statistically significant difference was detected between controls and patients at 6 KHz and 12 KHz frequencies. A higher incidence of SNHL was detected using TEOAE, 22 patients (43.1 %) failed to pass TEOAE, with a statistically significant decrease in the signal at frequencies 1, 4 KHz bilaterally and at frequencies 1.5, 2 KHz in the right ear compared to controls. Canal paresis was detected in 21 (36.8 %) of thalassemic children using bithermal caloric test with significantly more unilateral weakness than control children (P = 0.008). We found no significant correlation between audio-vestibular dysfunction and age, sex, serum ferritin, frequency of blood transfusion and dose of DFX FCT in thalassemic children. ConclusionWe conclude that the incidence of SNHL and vestibular dysfunction was high among transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients. Therefore, we recommend performing pre-treatment baseline audio-vestibular assessment and yearly audio-vestibular monitoring to early detect high risk patients and initiate timely management to prevent permanent damage.

Clinical diagnoses of patients showing caloric inversion

ObjectivesWhen air irrigation is used for caloric stimulation in patients with a perforated ear, warm irrigation may elicit a nystagmus that initially beats in the opposite direction of what is expected for warm irrigations, which is referred to as “caloric inversion”. This study aimed to investigate the disease group in which caloric inversion appeared in patients who underwent caloric testing and to classify the patterns of caloric inversion. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of bithermal caloric test results that were collected in our dizziness clinic between 2005 and 2022. Caloric inversion was defined when nystagmus induced by caloric stimulation appeared in the opposite direction to that expected. The incidence of caloric inversion among all patients who underwent bithermal caloric tests was calculated. To confirm the clinical diagnoses of the patients with caloric inversion, their clinical records were reviewed. ResultsOut of 9923 patients who underwent bithermal caloric tests, 29 patients (0.29%) showed a caloric inversion. The most common clinical diagnosis was chronic otitis media (21 of 29, 72%). Of the 21 patients with chronic otitis media, 20 patients showed a caloric inversion by warm air irrigation and one patient showed caloric inversion by cold air stimulation. Patients with clinical diagnoses other than chronic otitis media such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood and recurrent vestibulopathy showed caloric inversion by warm air irrigation. Caloric inversion by warm water irrigation was observed in patients with lateral semicircular canal cupulopathy and recurrent vestibulopathy. Two patients (one with Meniere’s disease and one with age-related dizziness) showed caloric inversion by cold water irrigation. ConclusionCaloric inversion can be observed in various diseases other than chronic otitis media with tympanic membrane perforation. Special care should be taken in the interpretation of caloric test results. Level of EvidenceLevel 4.

Subjective and objective responses to caloric stimulation help separate vestibular migraine from other vestibular disorders

BackgroundNystagmus generated during bithermal caloric test assesses the horizontal vestibulo-ocular-reflex. Any induced symptoms are considered unwanted side effects rather than diagnostic information.AimWe hypothesized that nystagmus slow-phase-velocity (SPV) and subjective symptoms during caloric testing would be higher in vestibular migraine (VM) patients compared with peripheral disorders such as Meniere’s disease (MD) and non-vestibular dizziness (NVD).MethodsConsecutive patients (n = 1373, 60% female) referred for caloric testing were recruited. During caloric irrigations, patients scored their subjective sensations. We assessed objective-measures, subjective vertigo (SVS), subjective nausea (SNS), and test completion status.ResultsNystagmus SPV for VM, MD (unaffected side), and NVD were 29 ± 12.8, 30 ± 15.4, and 28 ± 14.2 for warm irrigation and 24 ± 8.9, 22 ± 10.0, and 25 ± 12.8 for cold-irrigation. The mean SVS were 2.5 ± 1.1, 1.5 ± 1.33, and 1.5 ± 1.42 for warm irrigation and 2.2 ± 1.1, 1.1 ± 1.19, and 1.1 ± 1.16 for cold-irrigation. Age was significantly correlated with SVS and SNS, (p < 0.001) for both. The SVS and SNS were significantly higher in VM compared with non-VM groups (p < 0.001), and there was no difference in nystagmus SPV. VM patients SVS was significantly different to the SVS of migraineurs in the other diagnostic groups (p < 0.001). Testing was incomplete for 34.4% of VM and 3.2% of MD patients. To separate VM from MD, we computed a composite value representing the caloric data, with 83% sensitivity and 71% specificity. Application of machine learning to these metrics plus patient demographics yielded better separation (96% sensitivity and 85% specificity).ConclusionPerceptual differences between VM and non-VM patients during caloric stimulation indicate that subjective ratings during caloric testing are meaningful measures. Combining objective and subjective measures could provide optimal separation of VM from MD.

Clinical Features and Neurotologic Findings in Patients With Acute Unilateral Peripheral Vestibulopathy Associated With Antiganglioside Antibody.

Anecdotal studies have reported the presence of antiganglioside antibodies in acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy (AUPV). This study aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and neurotologic findings of AUPV associated with antiganglioside antibodies. Serum antigangliosides were measured in consecutive patients with AUPV according to the Bárány Society criteria during the acute and recovery phases in a referral-based university hospital in South Korea from September 2019 to January 2023. Clinical characteristics and neurotologic findings were compared between those with and without antiganglioside antibodies. The results of video-oculography, video head impulse and bithermal caloric tests, and other neurotologic evaluations including ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and subjective visual vertical were compared between the 2. MRIs dedicated to the inner ear were also conducted when considered necessary. One hundred five patients (mean age ± SD = 60 ± 13 years, 57 male) were included for analyses. During the acute phase, 12 patients (12/105, 11%) were tested positive for serum antiganglioside antibodies, including anti-GQ1b immunoglobulin (Ig) G (n = 5) or IgM (n = 4), anti-GM1 IgM (n = 3), and anti-GD1a IgG (n = 1, including 1 patient with a positive anti-GQ1b antibody). Patients with antiganglioside antibodies showed lesser intensity of spontaneous nystagmus (median [interquartile range] = 1.8 [1.2-2.1] vs 3.4 [1.5-9.5], p = 0.003) and a lesser degree of canal paresis (30 [17-47] vs 58 [34-79], p = 0.028) and gain asymmetry of the vestibulo-ocular reflex for the horizontal semicircular canal during head impulse tests (0.07 [-0.04 to 0.61] vs 0.36 [0.18-0.47], p = 0.032) than those without antibodies. Negative conversion of antibodies and vestibular recovery were observed in most patients (6/8, 75%). Among 30 patients with AUPV with 4-hour delayed 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery dedicated to the inner ear, gadolinium enhancement was observed in 18 (18/30, 60%), either in the vestibule (n = 9), semicircular canal (n = 6), or vestibular nerve (n = 5). The positivity rates based on specific antibodies could not be determined due to limited sample sizes. The association between antiganglioside antibodies and AUPV suggests an immune-mediated mechanism in acute vestibular failure and extends the clinical spectrum of antiganglioside antibody syndrome.

Relationship between clinical measures of hearing and clinical measures of vestibular function

PurposePatients often have basic audiometry (BA) but not objective diagnostic tests of the vestibular system (VNG) when complaining of symptoms of a vestibular disorder. The relationship of BA results to VNG results is unknown. This study sought to determine if BA scores are related to impaired VNG scores. Materials and methodsWe reviewed electronic medical records at a tertiary care center, for patients seen between 2015 and 2021 who had had both a BA and a VNG (n = 651). BA subtests were pure tone averages, word recognition, and tympanogram. VNG subtests were cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, Dix-Hallpike maneuvers, and bi-thermal caloric tests. All tests were summarized as normal/abnormal. ResultsMore subjects had abnormal BA than abnormal VNG scores. Age but not sex was significantly related to abnormal scores. High BP was a significant comorbidity in 15 % of the sample, more in patients with abnormal than normal VNG scores. Although the abnormal BA and abnormal VNG were significantly related, pure tone averages and tympanogram scores were not related to VNG subtests. Abnormal word recognition with both ears combined was significantly related to normal and abnormal bi-thermal caloric tests. ConclusionsIf the clinician needs to know of any VNG impairment, in general, then performing a BA without a VNG might suffice. If the clinician needs information about the details of possible vestibular impairment, then a VNG should be performed.

Differences in vestibulo-ocular reflexes between vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis.

To expand our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis by identifying any difference in the vestibulo-ocular reflex for each semicircular canal. Retrospective analysis. The Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Chosun University Hospital, from January 2015 to December 2021. We included 23 vestibular neuritis and 27 labyrinthitis patients who had been hospitalized. Pure-tone audiometry, a bithermal caloric test, and a video head-impulse test were performed within 5 days of symptom onset. In the vestibular neuritis group, mean vestibulo-ocular reflex gains were decreased to 0.51 in the ipsilesional horizontal canal and 0.55 in anterior canal, leading to marked asymmetry, whereas the gain of the ipsilesional posterior canal was relatively preserved at 0.85. In the labyrinthitis group, the mean vestibulo-ocular reflex gain was 0.72 in the ipsilesional horizontal canal, 0.73 in the ipsilesional anterior canal, and 0.55 in the ipsilesional posterior canal. We observed statistical differences in the vestibulo-ocular reflex gain and incidence of corrective saccades on the ipsilesional side in three semicircular canals between the groups (p = .002 for horizontal canal, p = .003 for anterior canal, and p < .001 for posterior canal). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that pure-tone audiometry, ipsilesional posterior canal gain, and gain asymmetry of posterior canal were excellent parameters for distinguishing labyrinthitis from vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis patients have different degrees and patterns of video head-impulse test involvement in the three semicircular canals, suggesting that the two distinct disorders may have different etiologies.

Hearing Outcomes Following Endolymphatic Duct Blockage Surgery and Factors Associated with Improved Audition at Two Years Follow-Up.

Objective: To evaluate hearing outcomes at 2 years post endolymphatic duct blockage (EDB) surgery, with an analysis of factors that may predict hearing improvement. Study Design: Retrospective comparative study. Setting: Tertiary care center. Subjects: Definite Ménière's Disease (MD) patients undergoing EDB for refractory disease. Methods: Chart review was conducted to assign cases to one of the three hearing outcome groups (deteriorated, stable, and improved). All cases that met our inclusion criteria were selected. Preoperative data collected were audiograms, bithermal caloric tests, preoperative vertigo episodes, history of previous ear surgery for Ménière, intratympanic steroid injections (ITS) and intraoperative endolymphatic sac (ELS) tear or opening. Postoperative data collected at 24 months were audiograms, vertigo episodes and bithermal caloric testing. Results: Preoperative vertigo episodes, caloric paresis and history of surgery, ITS injections or ELS integrity, as well as postoperative vertigo class distribution and caloric paresis changes were not different between our groups. Preoperative word recognition score (WRS) was lowest in the improved hearing group (p = 0.032). The persistence of tinnitus at 2 years postoperatively was associated with deteriorated hearing (p = 0.033). Conclusions: There are no strong predictors of hearing improvement on presentation pre-EDB, but low preoperative WRS may be the best estimator available. Therefore, ablative interventions should be considered very carefully in patients presenting with low WRS, as they may benefit more from EDB; there is a fair chance of a good hearing outcome with EDB surgery. Persistence of tinnitus can reflect deteriorating audition. Vertigo control and hearing preservation are independent outcomes of EDB surgery, making it desirable as an early intervention for refractory MD cases.

Development of Nystagmus Test and Measurement for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Vertigo is the illusion of rotation occuring due to a problem or a set of problems in the balance system of the body, and it is the situation that objects or places around the patients are in a revolving position around themselves. In vertigo, which is examined under two main headings as central and peripheral, central vertigo can be caused by aneurysms, tumors, and brain vascular distruption caused by brain lesions, while peripheral vertigo can occur due to thyroid types and metabolic disorders. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, colloquially called ‘crystal floating’, is the most common type of peripheral vertigo and many diagnostic, exercise and treatment methods are used in case of BPPV. However, today, as a result of the increase in computer use, treatment interactions have increased significantly. In line with the software created in this study, a computer-based diagnosis system and measurement system of nystagmus movements due to BPPV were developed. The system consists of three parts: mechanical, software and hardware. Visual Studio c# software interface and connection control software were formed in accordance with the diagnostic methods obtained from the literature. Software panels prepared on the interface for bithermal caloric and other tests are opened and the electronystagmography data prepared accordingly are graphed on Digilent Waveforms Analog Discovery. The performance of the BPPV test and measurement system were applied to the control group consisting of 10 healthy individuals. Dix-Hallpike, gaze, head rotation, optokinetic, pursuit tracking, bithermal caloric, Head Shaking and Saccadic tests were applied. As a result, the time for the preparation of the bithermal caloric test to 30-degree temperature value of the 3900 ml and 2600 ml was calculated as 4.00 ∓ 1.8 s and 3.67 ∓ 2.8 s. For 44-degree temperature value, they were -1,70 ∓ 2,75 s and -0,70 ∓ 3,09 s. Thus, it is seen that the developed system will enable the diagnosis of patients with BPPV to be determined in accordance with integrated visual stimuli in an accurate and ergonomic environment.

A Retrospective Study of the Relationship Between Hypertension and Vestibular Disorders in Middle-Aged Women With and Without HIV.

Patients often conflate the problem of lightheadedness from hypertension (HTN) and vertigo from a vestibular impairment, describing both problems as dizziness. The goal ofthe study was to learn if there is a relationship between measures of vestibular function and blood pressure. This retrospective study consisted of women who participatedin a longitudinal study of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a control cohort of age-matched women without HIV. We used data from the point in time when participants were tested for vestibular functions with bi-thermal caloric tests and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials; the data also included the blood pressure of the participants. High odds ratios (1.48 to 2.05) suggest a relationship between HTN and vestibular impairment, although the sample size was too small to reach statistical significance. Thedata suggest that high blood pressure may be related to vestibular impairments. Clinicians whose patients complain of vertigo and balance disorders consistent with vestibular impairments should consider blood pressure as a related problem during the initial visit.

The role of vestibular cold caloric tests in the presence of spontaneous nystagmus.

The bithermal caloric test is commonly used to detect a canal paresis. However, in case of spontaneous nystagmus, this procedure can provide results of non-univocal interpretation. On the other hand, confirming the presence of a unilateral vestibular deficit can help to differentiate between central and a peripheral vestibular involvement. We studied 78 patients suffering from acute vertigo and showing spontaneous horizontal unidirectional nystagmus. All patients were submitted to bithermal caloric tests, and the results were compared with those obtained using a monothermal (cold) caloric test. We demonstrate the congruence between the bithermal and monothermal (cold) caloric test through mathematical analysis of the results of both tests in patients with acute vertigo and spontaneous nystagmus. We propose to perform the caloric test in the presence of a spontaneous nystagmus using a monothermal cold assuming that the prevalence of the response to the cold irrigation on the side towards which the nystagmus beats is a sign of the presence of pathological unilateral weakness and therefore more likely peripheral in its origin.

Spontaneous Nystagmus in Patients With Posterior Semicircular Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

This study aimed to investigate the incidence of spontaneous nystagmus (SN) in posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and its effect on treatment outcomes. Retrospective case series. Tertiary referral center. This study included 50 patients with idiopathic unilateral PSCC BPPV between July 2021 and May 2022. The presence of SN was investigated, and the results of the bithermal caloric test and video head impulse test (vHIT) were compared. SN was observed in 13 (26%) of the 50 patients presenting PSCC BPPV. The direction of SN was mainly unidirectional and horizontal in 12 of the 13 patients with a slow-phase velocity ranging from 2 to 4°/s. One patient presented an upbeating torsional SN at the initial evaluation. The mean vHIT gain of the PSCC on the affected side was significantly lower in patients with SN than those without SN (p = .004, Mann-Whitney U test). The proportion of patients who recovered within 2 sessions of the repositioning maneuver was significantly higher in those without SN than that in those with SN (p < .001, Fisher's exact test). This study demonstrated that the treatment outcomes of PSCC BPPV were significantly worse in patients with SN than those without SN. Examining the presence of SN in patients with PSCC BPPV may be helpful in counseling the patients on prognosis, and it is expected that more sessions of canalith repositioning maneuver may be required to treat PSCC BPPV in patients with SN than those without SN.

Correlations of Clinical and Audio-Vestibulometric Findings with Coexisting Anxiety and Depression in Ménière’s Disease Patients

Introduction: Ménière’s disease (MD) is an inner ear disorder, characterized by vertiginous attacks, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of ear fullness. Endolymphatic hydrops has been proven as the underlying pathology. Frequently, psychopathologies accompany the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of anxiety and depression with demographic, clinical, and audio-vestibular findings in MD patients. Methods: The study included 40 consecutive unilateral MD patients. Demographic data (age, sex, education, employment, and marital status), clinical variables of drop attacks, the duration, frequency and severity of vertigo attacks, and tinnitus disturbance levels were recorded. Hearing threshold levels were graded between 1 and 4. Vestibulometric variables were taken as the presence of saccades and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain deficits in the video head impulse tests (vHIT) and canal paresis in bithermal caloric tests. Becks’s depression and anxiety scales were used for psychometric evaluations and graded by 4 and 5 from normal to severe and normal to very severe, respectively. Results: The median age of the patients was 48.94 years, and the numbers of both sexes were almost equal (male/female = 19/21). All patients reported at least one vertigo attacks within the last year. The duration of attacks was most commonly (62.5%) 1–3 h, ranging from <1 h to 17 h. Most attacks were graded as mild (67.5%), and the frequency was 2–3 episodes per year in 22 (55%) patients. The number of attacks within the last year was 1–12. Three patients reported having drop attacks. Hearing loss in the affected ear was moderate/moderately severe in 20 (50%) patients. Thirty-seven (92.5%) patients had complaints of tinnitus. In vHIT, saccades and VOR gain deficits were found in 33 (82.5%) and 11 (27.5%) patients, respectively. Canal paresis was present in 18 (45%) patients. The depression and anxiety rates were 35% and 90%, respectively. Depression scores were correlated with education, marital status, and the presence of saccades. Anxiety was correlated only with tinnitus severity and VOR gain deficits. Depression and anxiety were also correlated. Conclusion: Vertigo appears to be more intrusive than the other MD symptoms, and a higher correlation with anxiety than depression was demonstrated in this cohort. However, depression was seen less among married and educated patients, suggesting the role of coping capability, and had more pronounced clinical/vestibulometric correlates. Overall, these results indicated that it is mainly the severity of organic/physiological pathology which determines the degree of depression and anxiety in MD rather than vice versa.

Bilateral peripheral vestibulopathy

Bilateral vestibulopathy is a relatively widespread and at the same time rarely diagnosed cause of chronic postural instability. Numerous toxic factors, dysmetabolic, autoimmune and neurodegenerative processes can lead to this condition. The main clinical manifestations of bilateral vestibulopathy are balance disorders and visual disturbances (oscillopsia), which can significantly increase the risks of falls in such patients. In addition, cognitive and affective disorders, which also reduce the quality of life in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy, have been described and actively studied in recent years. The diagnosis of bilateral vestibulopathy is based on the results of a clinical neurovestibular study, including a dynamic visual acuity test and a Halmagyi test. A video head impulse test, a bithermal caloric test and a sinusoidal rotation test are used as instrumental methods confirming the dysfunction of the peripheral vestibular system. However, they are still not widespread in neurological practice. Treatment of bilateral vestibulopathy is reduced to vestibular rehabilitation. Encouraging results have been obtained in a number of studies using galvanic vestibular stimulation and the use of vestibular implants. In addition, cognitive rehabilitation methods are currently being developed, which presumably can also improve compensation for bilateral vestibular loss.

Audiovestibular Findings in Celiac Patients

Objective: Celiac is a small intestine disease that occurs in susceptible individuals with a cellular and humoral immunological response that develops against gluten, a cereal protein. There are few studies evaluating the audiovestibular system in celiac patients. This study aims to evaluate audiovestibular findings in celiac patients. Materials and Methods: 40 patients with celiac disease and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this sudy. Each subject underwent a neurotologic examination including pure tone audiometry (PTA), Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emission (TEOAE) with 1000 Hz, 1500 Hz, 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz and 4000 Hz, Videonystagmography (VNG), and binaural bithermal caloric test. It was evaluated whether the test results indicated significant differences between the celiac patient and control group. Results: Sensorineural hearing loss was detected in the right and left ear of the 7 patients. In the pure tone audiometry (PTA) test, there was no statistically significant difference between celiac patients and controls in both air conducted and bone conducted hearing thresholds (p=0,389 for the right ear, p=0,083 for the left ear). Speech reception thresholds of celiac patients were significantly higher than the controls (p= 0,000 for right ear, p=0,001 for the left ear) While OAE response was obtained in the right ear of 24 patients and in the left ear of 23 patients; OAE response was obtained in all of the control group. In the OAE test, in response to 2000 Hz stimuli, there was no significant difference in the right ear responses, although there was a lower signal-to-noise ratio in patients compared to the control group. At all other frequencies, a statistically significant lower signal-to-noise ratio was found in the patient group. Statistically significant pathological differences were found in spontaneaus nystagmus, gaze, saccade, smooth pursuit, optokinetic nystagmus and caloric tests in celiac patients compared to the control group (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Pure tone audiometry, otoacoustic emision, oculomotor and caloric tests findings indicated that auditory system, periphral and central vestibular system may be affected in individuals with celiac disease.