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When is isolated vertigo a harbinger of stroke?
1Department of Neurology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New Hyde Park, New York 11042.
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Isolated vertigo can signal a serious stroke risk. Abnormal Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) in vertigo patients may indicate a need for urgent investigation to prevent stroke.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurotology
Background:
- Isolated vertigo is often benign but can indicate vertebrobasilar stroke.
- Identifying high-risk patients for stroke is clinically challenging.
Observation:
- Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) are typically normal in labyrinthine vertigo.
- A case study highlights abnormal BAEPs in a patient with isolated vertigo.
Findings:
- The patient with abnormal BAEPs subsequently experienced an anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarct.
- Abnormal BAEPs may correlate with impending vertebrobasilar stroke.
Implications:
- BAEP testing could aid in early detection of "at-risk" vertigo patients.
- Prompt investigation and treatment based on BAEP results may prevent catastrophic stroke.