No Association Found Between Uric Acid Levels and Peripheral Vertigo Disorders: Results From a Two-Sample Mendelian...

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Epidemiology
• Otolaryngology
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• The relationship between serum uric acid and peripheral vertigo diseases (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Meniere's Disease, Vestibular Neuritis) is debated.
• Investigating this association is crucial for developing preventative and early intervention strategies for vertigo.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential causal link between genetically predicted serum uric acid levels and the risk of developing peripheral vertigo diseases.
• To provide evidence-based insights into the role of uric acid in the etiology of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Meniere's Disease, and Vestibular Neuritis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach.
• Analyzed large-scale Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) datasets for uric acid levels (n=343,836) and peripheral vertigo diseases (BPPV, MD, VN).
• Employed multiple MR analysis methods including Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, and others, with IVW as the primary analysis.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant association was observed between genetically predicted serum uric acid levels and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
• No significant correlation was found between serum uric acid levels and Meniere's Disease (MD).
• The study found no significant link between serum uric acid levels and Vestibular Neuritis (VN).

Conclusions:

• This Mendelian Randomization study found no evidence to support a causal relationship between serum uric acid levels and the risk of BPPV, MD, or VN.
• Serum uric acid is unlikely to be an independent risk factor for these common peripheral vestibular disorders.
• The findings do not support the hypothesis that elevated uric acid contributes to the development of peripheral vertigo.