The Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Mediators in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common peripheral cause of vertigo. It can be defined as transient vertigo induced by rapid changes in head position associated with a characteristic paroxysmal positional nystagmus. The aim of this study was to search for the possible role of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of BPPV.

Total antioxidant status as well as paraoxonase, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL) 6, and IL-1β levels were evaluated in peripheral venous serum samples of 30 BPPV and 30 control patients.

Total antioxidant status levels were lower in the BPPV group than in the control group (p=0.008). After Epley's repositioning maneuver in the vertigo group, there was a statistically significant decline in IL-1β levels at the first and third month visits (p=0.014 for first month and p=0.013 for third month).

Our findings suggested that IL-1β and oxidative stress contributed to the pathogenesis of BPPV.