Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving each semicircular canal.
OBJECTIVE
We have investigated vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) as a function of age and the involvement of each of the 3 semicircular canals in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).


METHODS
We performed prospective assessment from January 2005 to September 2006. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential was measured in 53 patients with BPPV and 84 healthy subjects, with the latter subdivided by patient age.


RESULTS
The subgroup of healthy subjects older than 60 years showed significantly more prolonged p13 and n23 latencies and lower amplitude than the other 2 subgroups. Of the 53 patients with BPPV, 13 (24.5%) showed abnormal VEMP responses on the affected side when compared with their age-related control subgroup. There was no correlation between VEMP findings and the affected semicircular canal.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with BPPV may show abnormal VEMP findings, irrespective of the involved semicircular canal, and age was associated with VEMP results suggesting degeneration of the maculae of the saccule.
Hong
Seok Min
SM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
Park
Dong Choon
DC
Yeo
Seung Geun
SG
Cha
Chang Il
CI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult