Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials of undiagnosed dizziness.
OBJECTIVE
Recording of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) can facilitate the evaluation of otolith function. The dizziness caused by otolith lesions is not completely understood. To clarify which symptoms of dizziness originate from the otolith organs, we examined the relationship between symptoms and VEMP results in patients with undiagnosed dizziness.


METHODS
The subjects were 18 patients with undiagnosed dizziness aged less than 40 years who underwent VEMP examination. The VEMP results were evaluated using the interaural ratio of p13-n23 amplitude.


RESULTS
Abnormal VEMP results were obtained in five of seven patients who experienced a sensation of falling (p=0.013), in none of the three patients who experienced a swaying sensation (p>0.05), and in one of eight patients who experienced a floating sensation (p>0.05). Five of six patients with abnormal VEMP results complained of disequilibrium lasting a few seconds.


CONCLUSIONS
Dizziness with a sensation of falling lasting for a few seconds was related to abnormal VEMP results, suggesting that it resulted from saccular dysfunction. VEMP examination may be considered a useful modality in the diagnosis of dizziness of unknown origin.
Seo
Toru
T
Department of Otolaryngology, Takarazuka Municipal Hospital, 4-5-1 Kohama, Takarazuka, Hyogo 665-0827, Japan. tseo@hyo-med.ac.jp
Miyamoto
Atsushi
A
Node
Michiko
M
Sakagami
Masafumi
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012444:Saccule and Utricle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology