Oxidative stress and heart rate variability in patients with vertigo

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Peripheral vertigo is associated with oxidative stress and autonomic nervous dysfunction.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) is a tool for assessing autonomic nervous activity.
• The interplay between vertigo, oxidative stress, and autonomic function remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in oxidative stress and autonomic nervous activity in patients with peripheral vertigo.
• To compare these parameters in vertigo patients versus healthy volunteers.
• To evaluate the impact of vertigo treatment on oxidative stress and autonomic nervous activity.

Main Methods:

• Oxidative stress assessed via biological antioxidant potential and reactive oxygen metabolites.
• Autonomic nervous activity evaluated using heart rate variability (HRV).
• Study 1: Compared vertigo patients (n=34) with healthy volunteers (n=23). Study 2: Measured parameters before and after treatment in vertigo patients (n=18 for oxidative stress, n=41 for HRV).

Main Results:

• Vertigo patients exhibited higher reactive oxygen metabolites compared to controls.
• Lower parasympathetic nervous activity and a higher sympathetic/parasympathetic ratio (autonomic nervous activity ratio) were observed in vertigo patients.
• Post-treatment, reactive oxygen metabolites decreased, and the autonomic nervous activity ratio normalized.

Conclusions:

• Elevated oxidative stress and altered autonomic nervous activity are characteristic of peripheral vertigo.
• Conventional vertigo treatment can ameliorate these physiological changes.
• Bedside monitoring of oxidative stress and HRV may support vertigo diagnosis and treatment efficacy assessment.