Recurrence of vertigo in patients with vestibular neuritis

Abstract

Conclusion. The recurrence rate of vertigo due to any cause in patients with vestibular neuritis (VN) was about 26.0% in our study. No clinical characteristics were significantly associated with recurrences. Objective: We aimed to: 1) determine the prevalence of recurrent VN; 2) compare the clinical characteristics and epidemiologic factors of patients with non-recurrent and recurrent VN; and 3) determine the prevalence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in patients with VN. Methods: In 131 patients diagnosed as having VN (68 males, aged 49.8 ± 14.9 years and 63 females, aged 57.5 ± 12.5 years), a retrospective chart review and telephone survey about the recurrent vertigo were performed. Vestibular function testing, inner ear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and pure tone audiograms were performed on every patient. Vestibular function testing was repeated in patients with recurrences. Results: Fourteen of 131 patients (10.7%) had recurrent VN. The subjective intensity of recurrent VN was less than the first attack. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics such as accompanying headache or preceding respiratory infection and in epidemiologic risk factors between patients with recurrent and non-recurrent VN. Twenty of 131 patients (15.3%) experienced BPPV during the follow-up period.

Keywords::

• Recurrent vestibulopathy
• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an INHA University research grant.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.