Follow-up of vestibular function in bilateral vestibulopathy

Abstract

Objective: Bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) leads to a bilateral deficit of the vestibulo-ocular reflex and has various aetiologies. The main goal of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of recovery or worsening of vestibular function over time. Methods: 82 patients (59 males, 23 females; mean age at the time of diagnosis 56.3 (SD 17.6) years) were reexamined 51 (36) months after the first examination. All patients underwent a standardised neuro-ophthalmological and neuro-otological examination. Electronystagmography with bithermal caloric irrigation was analysed by measurement of the mean peak slow phase velocity (SPV) of the induced nystagmus. Patients evaluated the course of their disease in terms of balance, gait unsteadiness and health related quality of life. Results: Statistical analysis of the mean peak SPV of caloric induced nystagmus revealed a non-significant worsening over time (initial mean peak SPV 3.0 (3.5)u/s vs 2.1 (2.8)u/s). With respect to subgroups of aetiology, only patients with BV due to meningitis exhibited an increasing, but non-significant SPV (1.0 (1.4)u/s vs 1.9 (1.6)u/s). Vestibular outcome was independent of age, gender, time course of manifestation and severity of BV. Single analysis of all patients showed that a substantial improvement >5u/s occurred in two patients on both sides (idiopathic n = 1, Sjögren's syndrome n = 1) and in eight patients on one side (idiopathic n = 6, meningitis n = 1, Menière's disease n = 1). In 84% of patients there was impairment of their health related quality of life (42% slight, 24% moderate, 18% severe). Forty-three per cent of patients rated the course of their disease as stable, 28% as worsened and 29% as improved. Conclusions: Our data support the view that more than 80% of patients with BV do not improve. Thus the prognosis of BV is less favourable than assumed.

Characterization of pulse amplitude and pulse rate modulation for a human vestibular implant during acute electrical stimulation

“…For instance, patients with bilateral vestibular loss typically suffer from imbalance, impaired spatial orientation, or oscillopsia. The prognosis of bilateral vestibular loss is unfavorable (Zingler et al 2008), patients have a reduced quality of life and no adequate treatment is currently available (Porciuncula et al 2012, Guyot 2015.…”

Clinical diagnosis of bilateral vestibular loss: three simple bedside tests

“…With these three clinical signs, diagnosis of severe BVL is usually straightforward to establish but mild BVL remains a diagnostic challenge, as clinical tests might not be conclusive and data from laboratory tests, including caloric irrigation, rotational chair and video head impulse testing, show considerable overlap between patients and normal subjects . Vestibular outcome seems to be independent of age, gender, time course of manifestation and severity of BVL [Zingler et al 2008]. Roughly 80% of patients with BVL do not improve and, thus, the prognosis seems less favourable than assumed previously [Zingler et al 2008].…”

“…Vestibular outcome seems to be independent of age, gender, time course of manifestation and severity of BVL [Zingler et al 2008]. Roughly 80% of patients with BVL do not improve and, thus, the prognosis seems less favourable than assumed previously [Zingler et al 2008].…”

Vestibuler rehabilitation in bilateral vestibulopaty

“…Örneğin kamyon şöforu, inşaat işçisi ya da çatı ustası olarak çalışıyorsa iş değişikliği yapması ve masa başı bir işte çalışması uygun olacaktır (1). Gelecek Tedaviler: Yoğun tedavi girişimlerine rağmen, hastalarda uzun vadede semptomlarda ve vestibuler fonksiyonda iyileşme gözlenmeyebilir (54). Çalışmalar halen devam etmektedir.…”