Vestibular evaluation using videonystagmography of chronic zinc deficient patients due to short bowel syndrome.
The presence of zinc in the auditory pathways and its probable participation in tinnitus and hearing loss are known facts, although there are no clinical trials and experimental studies showing the impact of hypozincemia in the vestibular system and zinc existence in the vestibular pathway, respectively.


OBJECTIVE
This study is an attempt to correlate hypozincemia and abnormal vestibular function.


METHODS
This is a clinical retrospective case study where nine patients suffering of chronic zinc deficiency had their serum zinc determined and were submitted to videonystagmography. Results were compared to a normal (control) group.


RESULTS
All vestibular test parameters were altered when we compared experimental and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Comparison between groups shows significant differences in many aspects of the vestibular analysis and calls our attention towards a possible participation of zinc on the genesis of vestibular disorders.
Ferreira
Gustavo Duarte Paiva
GD
Núcleo de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço.
Cury
Maria Cristina Lancia
MC
Oliveira
José Antônio de
JA
Manfredi
Alessandra Kerli
AK
Vannucchi
Hélio
H
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014741:Video Recording; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*
D015032:Zinc