title: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and clinical test of sensory interaction and balance in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the frequency and characteristics of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and clinical test of sensory interaction and balance (CTSIB) abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  A series of consecutive patients diagnosed with SSc according to well-established classification criteria and matched controls were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was performed at the otolaryngology division of a tertiary reference center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two patients (35 with limited SSc [lSSc] and 7 with diffuse SSc [dSSc]) and 74 controls were studied between January and May 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dix-Hallpike and cephalic rotational tests and CTSIB were performed in SSc patients and age-, sex-, and ethnically frequency-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Type and frequency of BPPV and CTSIB conditions were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients (17%) fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for BPPV compared with none of the controls (p < 0.001). It was related to the involvement of the posterior semicircular canal in two lSSc patients and the horizontal semicircular canal in another three patients with lSSc and two with dSSc. A significantly increased frequency of abnormal CTSIB was also observed in SSc patients (20 [48%]) compared to controls (7 [10%]; p < 0.0001; odds ratio, 8.70; 95% confidence interval, 2.97-27.2). It was caused by a vestibular pattern in most patients (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows an increased frequency of BPPV and a vestibular pattern in CTSIB in SSc patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology, Hospital Xeral-Calde, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Amor-Dorado
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barreira-Fernandez
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arias-Nuñez
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomez-Acebo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llorca
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Gay
mesh_terms: D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007762:Labyrinthitis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D009760:Nystagmus, Physiologic; D018579:Patient Selection; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D012016:Reference Values; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014110:Touch; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests