Clinical features of patients with high and normal CSFP in venous pulsating tinnitus

Background: Few doctors associate high cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) with vascular tinnitus. On the basis of predecessors, we found there were some differences in clinical data between patients with elevated versus normal CSFP.Aims/objectives: To explore the differences in clinical data between the elevated CSFP group and the normal CSFP group.Materials and methods: A total of 27 patients with venous pulsating tinnitus who underwent measurement of CSFP through IP were reviewed. Clinical data were compared between the two groups.Result: Twelve patients (44.44%) had high CSFP ranging from 210-245 mm H₂O. Fifteen cases (55.56%) had normal CSFP ranging from 120-190 mm H₂O. Tinnitus disappeared for several hours after IP in 9 patients in thehigh CSFP group but none of the patients in the normal CSFP group, and this difference was significant (p < .001). The mean tinnitus handicap inventory (THI) and visual analog scale (VAS) were 90.33 ± 3.06 and 8.25 ± 0.83, respectively, in the high CSFP group and 83.73 ± 2.81 and 7.73 ± 0.93, respectively, in the normal CSFP group. These differences were statistically significant (p < .001).Conclusion and significance: Patients in the high CSFP group had more severe tinnitus scores. Tinnitus temporarily disappeared after IP in some patients with high CSFP.