title: Effectiveness of betahistine (48 mg/day) in patients with vestibular vertigo during routine practice: The VIRTUOSO study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vestibular vertigo is associated with substantially reduced quality of life. Betahistine is effective in improving vertigo-associated symptoms, with longer treatment periods leading to greater improvements; however, it is not known whether these effects persist after treatment cessation.
  
  
  METHODS
  VIRTUOSO was a prospective, multinational, non-comparative, post-marketing observational programme investigating the effectiveness of betahistine (48 mg/day) and the course of vertigo after the discontinuation of treatment. Patients with vestibular vertigo who were prescribed 48 mg/day betahistine were enrolled in Russia and Ukraine. Treatment duration was up to 2 months, and patients were followed up for 2 months after discontinuation of betahistine. Efficacy endpoints included clinical response (assessed by change in vertigo severity), monthly attack frequency, and physician and patient grading of overall clinical response and improvement of vertigo-associated symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 309 patients were enrolled and 305 completed the study. Clinical response was rated as good, very good or excellent in 74.1% of patients at end of treatment, with vertigo severity significantly decreased from baseline (p < 0.001). Monthly vertigo attack frequency decreased significantly during the 2 months of treatment (p < 0.001 from baseline) and further decreased during the 2-month follow-up (p < 0.001 from end of treatment). Overall, clinical response was graded as good or excellent by 94.4% of physicians and 95.4% of patients. Clinical improvement was considered either good or excellent by 82.6-90.5% of physicians and patients for nausea, vomiting and faintness. Only one adverse event was reported, with no serious adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that betahistine (48 mg/day) therapy is effective in treating vertigo in routine clinical settings. The observed effects persisted for 2 months after treatment cessation, suggesting that betahistine may facilitate lasting vestibular compensation.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Vladimir A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Parfenov
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Border States Department, Ukrainian State Institute of Medical and Social Problems of Disability, Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Volodymyr A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Golyk
authors.affiliation: State Scientific Centre of the Russian Federation, Institute of Biomedical Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Eduard I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Matsnev
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Svetlana V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Morozova
authors.affiliation: ANO Guta Clinic, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Oleg A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Melnikov
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Ludmila M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Antonenko
authors.affiliation: State Scientific Centre of the Russian Federation, Institute of Biomedical Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Elena E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Sigaleva
authors.affiliation: Clinical Audiology and Vestibology Department, O.S. Kolomyichenko Otolaryngology Institute, Kyiv, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Maksym I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Situkho
authors.affiliation: Kyiv City Clinical Hospital № 9, Neurology Department, Kyiv, Ukraine.|P.L. Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kyiv, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Olena I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Asaulenko
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.|Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Vasyl I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Popovych
authors.affiliation: ANO Guta Clinic, Moscow, Russia.|Department of Neurology, Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Maxim V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Zamergrad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001621:Betahistine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012426:Russia; D014455:Ukraine; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001621:Betahistine