Prospective clinical investigation of the relationship between idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and...

Idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a strong indicator of decreased bone density (osteopenia/osteoporosis) in postmenopausal women, and there is a correlation between BPPV and serum levels of biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Prospective pilot clinical trial.

Two groups of postmenopausal women were recruited. The BPPV group consisted of 16 women with a diagnosis of BPPV. The OSTEO group consisted of 13 women with history of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan results were compared, along with serum levels of ionized calcium (iCa), vitamin D, aminoterminal propeptide of protocollagen type I (P1NP), and aminoterminal telopeptides of collagen (sNTX).

Prevalence of decreased bone mass density among BPPV subjects was 81%, and prevalence of BPPV among OSTEO subjects was 31%. BPPV subjects had higher P1NP levels. Multiple regression analysis showed that among BPPV subjects, there was positive correlation between P1NP and sNTX and a negative correlation between P1NP and vitamin D level. Age was positively correlated with serum levels of both biomarkers among the BPPV subjects. T score, serum iCa, and serum vitamin D levels did not appear to correlate with presence of BPPV.

Idiopathic BPPV subjects have a high prevalence of osteopenia/osteoporosis. Levels of biochemical markers of bone turnover correlate with presence of BPPV. Our results, based on a sample of U.S. subjects, support an association between idiopathic BPPV and disorders of bone turnover.