title: Postural control in patients after a recent vestibular neuritis with hyperhomocysteinemia.
abstract: To assess the possible role of hyperhomocysteinemia (HyHcy) in delaying recovery after acute vestibular neuritis. In our retrospective study, 90 subjects were evaluated within 7 days from the beginning of an acute vertigo. All subjects had high plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy). 46 patients were treated with homocysteine lowering therapy and betahistine for 1 month, while 44 subjects received only betahistine. Subjective symptoms were evaluated with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) questionnaire, administered 7 days after the beginning of vertigo and again after 1 month. Moreover, postural control performed at 1 month' control was studied with static stabilometry in a subgroup of 21 non-treated and 20 treated patients. DHI total score decreased significantly more in the subgroup of subjects treated with homocysteine lowering therapy. Moreover, posturographic data were significantly increased in non-treated compared with treated subjects. Our data support the possibility of a role of HyHcy in preventing recovery after a recent vestibular neuritis. A microvascular disorder or the neurotoxic effect of HyHcy have been considered as possible causal factors. Although not conclusive, our data are not inconsistent with the hypothesis of a poorer adaptation in patients with untreated HyHcy.
authors.affiliation: ENT Poliambulatory of Territorial Presidium, ICP, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raponi
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teggi
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bussi
keywords: Hyperhomocysteinemia; Static stabilometry; Vestibular adaptation; Vestibular neuritis