Role of Serum Markers in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: Are They Useful?

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a peripheral labyrinthine disease and is one of the most common causes of dizziness in the general population. The proposed study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh for a period of one year. About 44 patients aged between 14 and 60 years who came out positive on Dix Hallpike test and were willing for study were included in case group, whereas 44 patients aged 14-60 years who came out negative on Dix Hallpike test and with no complaint of vertiginous feeling were included in control group. Cases and controls were subjected to blood investigations like complete hemogram, calcium, vitamin D and uric acid. The mean Vitamin D was found to be significantly less in Case group (27.90 ± 15.89) compared to the Control group (39.05 ± 21.15) while no significant difference in mean Serum Calcium was observed between the Case group (8.48 ± 1.28) and Control group (8.88 ± 1.25). Serum uric acid levels were also compared and no significant difference was found between Case group (4.12 ± 1.15) and the Control group (4.06 ± 0.95). Our study found that there is relation between low vitamin D levels and occurrence of BPPV. Which supports the hypothesis that supplementation of Vitamin D might be helpful in preventing the occurrence and more frequent recurrence of BPPV. However in our study no association was found between serum calcium and uric acid levels with BPPV.