[Oculomotor response to the vertical cephalic autorotatory test in patients with benign paroxistic positional vertigo of the posterior canal].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the eye movement response to the head auto-rotation test (HART) in the vertical plane in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.


METHODS



METHODS
A transversal, descriptive study. SETTING UP: Outpatient clinic in a general Hospital.


METHODS
34 posterior canal BPPV cases with a video-oculographic diagnosis, older than 18 years old, 7 of them were not able to perform the HART.


METHODS
HART was performed by a an electrooculographic system with simultaneous recording of head movement by an acelerometer in the vertical plane (Vorteq, Micromedical Instruments). The HART with eyes fixation was performed 3 times to determine its reliability.


METHODS
Gain, asymmetry and phase for the vertical VOR respectively. A statistical analysis was carried out to determine the test reliability and the number of individuals with an abnormal result.


RESULTS
Gain is the only variable that showed a reproducible result in the HART for the active head movement at 1-2 Hz (test-retest reliability 0.83-0.89). The values of gain showed a moderate correlation at the frequencies 1-3 Hz (correlation 0.60-0.87). Asymmetry and phase were not reproducible variables (correlation < 0.55). Thirteen of 27 (48%) patients presented a decrease of the vertical gain, another 13 showed normal values and one case showed raised values.


CONCLUSIONS
Gain is the only useful variable in the vertical HART. Forty-eight percent of patients with posterior canal BPPV have a reduced vertical gain, suggesting an impairment of inferior vestibular nerve function.
López Escámez
J A
JA
Grupo de Otología y Otoneurología, CTS495, Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Area de Cirugía, Hospital de Poniente de Almería, El Ejido. jalopeze@cajamar.es
Molina
M I
MI
Zapata
C
C
Palma
M J
MJ
Gómez Fiñana
M
M
Gámiz
M J
MJ
Fernández Pérez
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D019416:Head Movements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014717:Vertigo / Q000503:physiopathology*