Vestibular impairment in peripheral sensory neuropathies.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with peripheral sensory neuropathies frequently complain of dizziness, mainly unsteadiness, which occasionally seems to be more severe than the neuropathy. This study is an attempt to determine whether in cases where dizziness is a prominent feature the underlying cause is, at times, a concomitant vestibular dysfunction.


METHODS
The files of 50 patients suffering from peripheral sensory neuropathies were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with central nervous system disease capable of inducing vestibular dysfunction were excluded from this study. In 47 of 50 patients, bithermal caloric tests were performed as part of electronystagmographic recordings. According to the caloric responses, these patients were divided into three groups: group 1: bilaterally reduced responses, group 2: unilaterally reduced responses, and group 3: normal symmetric responses.


RESULTS
In 17 of 47 patients, the caloric responses were reduced bilaterally (group 1). In 8 of 47 patients, the responses were reduced unilaterally (group 2). In 22 of 47 patients, the caloric responses were normal and symmetric (group 3).


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibular dysfunction was encountered in 25 of 47 patients (53.2%) suffering from peripheral sensory neuropathy. One wonders whether the pathologic process affecting the peripheral sensory nerves may also affect the vestibular nerve. This seems possible in view of the fact that the vestibular nerve, a sensory nerve itself, has a histologic structure similar to the peripheral sensory nerves.
Samaha
M
M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
Katsarkas
A
A
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology