Subjective visual vertical during eccentric rotation in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Otolaryngology
• Vestibular System

Background:

• Subjective visual vertical (SVV) assessment in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) has yielded inconsistent results.
• Eccentric rotation stimulates a single labyrinth, offering a potentially improved measure of otolith function compared to conventional SVV tests.
• Previous studies have not reported SVV measurements during eccentric rotation in BPPV patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure SVV during eccentric rotation in patients diagnosed with BPPV.
• To investigate the function of the utricles in individuals with BPPV using this novel method.
• To compare SVV values during eccentric rotation between BPPV patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary referral center.
• SVV was measured in 23 patients with BPPV and 20 healthy control subjects.
• Measurements were taken before and during eccentric rotation to the right and left.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in SVV values was observed between BPPV patients and controls before eccentric rotation.
• Significant differences in SVV values were detected during eccentric rotation between the two groups.
• This indicates altered otolith function in BPPV patients during this specific maneuver.

Conclusions:

• Utricular dysfunction was identified in patients with BPPV during eccentric rotation.
• Eccentric rotation appears to be a valuable method for detecting and measuring utricular dysfunction.
• This technique may enhance the clinical assessment of otolith function in BPPV.