title: Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving each semicircular canal.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Dong Choon
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung Geun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.forename: Chang Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: 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