Efficacy of CDP and ENG in Detecting Balance Impairment Associated With Cerebral White Matter Changes

To examine the relationship between white matter changes (WMCs) and abnormal balance test results on computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) and electronystagmography (ENG). Also, to compare the utility of CDP with ENG for this purpose.

Retrospective case review.

Tertiary care referral center.

A retrospective review of 137 subjects was conducted. The CDP and ENG results were compared between patients with (80) and without (57) WMCs as detected byT2/fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

CDP analysis consisted of both sensory organization test (SOT) and motor control test (MCT) results, and ENG analysis included positional, oculomotor, and bithermal caloric testing. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to control for age and hearing loss discrepancies between the two groups.

Ninety three percent of patients with WMCs had an abnormal CDP result, as compared with 44% of patients lacking WMCs (p < 0.001). Eighty six percent of patients with WMCs had an abnormal ENG, as did 81% of patients without WMCs (p = 0.435). Multivariate regression analysis maintained that an abnormal CDP result was significantly associated with WMCs when controlling for age and hearing loss (p < 0.001).

These findings suggest that patients with cerebral small-vessel ischemic changes are significantly more likely to have an abnormal balance result as detected by CDP, than by ENG. Hence, CDP may be a better study to identify and document patients who have balance dysfunction associated with this central finding. Such identification will permit additional evaluation and treatment based on objective confirmation of balance dysfunction, in this group of balance-impaired subjects who may have normal ENG's.