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Stroke and Vascular Neurology Dec 2018Following the initial description of HINTS to diagnose acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) in 2009, there has been significant interest in the systematic evaluation of HINTs... (Review)
Review
Following the initial description of HINTS to diagnose acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) in 2009, there has been significant interest in the systematic evaluation of HINTs to diagnose stroke and other less common central causes of AVS. This trend increased with availability of the video head impulse test (video-HIT). This article reviews the original papers and discusses the main publications from 2009 to 2017. Many authors use video-HIT in the diagnosis of patients with AVS; this paper focuses on the major publications on the topic featuring nystagmus, manual and video-HIT, and skew deviation. Twenty-five papers provide a summary of the last 8 years' application of HINTS, the video-HIT added quantitative information to the early clinical observations. Further research will undoubtedly provide specific combination of abnormalities with high degree of lesion localisation and aetiology. In a short time following the original description, neurotologist and neurologists in the evaluation of AVS use the HINTS triad. The introduction of the video-HIT added greater understanding of the complex interaction between the primary vestibular afferents, brainstem and cerebellum. In addition, it permits evaluation of the angular vestibulo-ocular reflex in the plane of all six semicircular canals, with accurate peripheral versus central lesion localisation often corroborated by brain imaging.
Topics: Acute Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Head Impulse Test; Head Movements; Humans; Nausea; Predictive Value of Tests; Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; Reproducibility of Results; Syndrome; Vertigo; Vestibular Neuronitis; Video Recording; Vomiting
PubMed: 30637123
DOI: 10.1136/svn-2018-000160 -
Journal of Vestibular Research :... 2022This paper describes the Bárány Society Classification OverSight Committee (COSC) position on Cervical Dizziness, sometimes referred to as Cervical Vertigo. This...
This paper describes the Bárány Society Classification OverSight Committee (COSC) position on Cervical Dizziness, sometimes referred to as Cervical Vertigo. This involved an initial review by a group of experts across a broad range of fields, and then subsequent review by the Bárány Society COSC. Based upon the so far published literature, the Bárány Society COSC takes the view that the evidence supporting a mechanistic link between an illusory sensation of self-motion (i.e. vertigo - spinning or otherwise) and neck pathology and/or symptoms of neck pain - either by affecting the cervical vertebrae, soft tissue structures or cervical nerve roots - is lacking. When a combined head and neck movement triggers an illusory sensation of spinning, there is either an underlying common vestibular condition such as migraine or BPPV or less commonly a central vestibular condition including, when acute in onset, dangerous conditions (e.g. a dissection of the vertebral artery with posterior circulation stroke and, exceedingly rarely, a vertebral artery compression syndrome). The Committee notes, that migraine, including vestibular migraine, is by far, the commonest cause for the combination of neck pain and vestibular symptoms. The committee also notes that since head movement aggravates symptoms in almost any vestibular condition, the common finding of increased neck muscle tension in vestibular patients, may be linked as both cause and effect, to reduced head movements. Additionally, there are theoretical mechanisms, which have not been explored, whereby cervical pain may promote vaso-vagal, cardio-inhibitory reflexes and hence by presyncopal mechanisms, elicit transient disorientation and/or imbalance. The committee accepts that further research is required to answer the question as to whether those rare cases in which neck muscle spasm is associated with a vague sense of spatial disorientation and/or imbalance, is indeed linked to impaired neck proprioception. Future studies should ideally be placebo controlled and double-blinded where possible, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria that aim for high specificity at the cost of sensitivity. To facilitate further studies in "cervical dizziness/vertigo", we provide a narrative view of the important confounds investigators should consider when designing controlled mechanistic and therapeutic studies. Hence, currently, the Bárány COSC refrains from proposing any preliminary diagnostic criteria for clinical use outside a research study. This position may change as new research evidence is provided.
Topics: Humans; Dizziness; Neck Pain; Vertigo; Vestibular Diseases; Head Movements; Migraine Disorders
PubMed: 36404562
DOI: 10.3233/VES-220202 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... May 2023History and physical examination are key features to narrow the differential diagnosis of central versus peripheral causes in patients presenting with acute vertigo. We... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
History and physical examination are key features to narrow the differential diagnosis of central versus peripheral causes in patients presenting with acute vertigo. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic test accuracy of physical examination findings.
METHODS
This study involved a patient-intervention-control-outcome (PICO) question: (P) adult ED patients with vertigo/dizziness; (I) presence/absence of specific physical examination findings; and (O) central (ischemic stroke, hemorrhage, others) versus peripheral etiology. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) was assessed.
RESULTS
From 6309 titles, 460 articles were retrieved, and 43 met the inclusion criteria: general neurologic examination-five studies, 869 patients, pooled sensitivity 46.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 32.3%-61.9%, moderate certainty) and specificity 92.8% (95% CI 75.7%-98.1%, low certainty); limb weakness/hemiparesis-four studies, 893 patients, sensitivity 11.4% (95% CI 5.1%-23.6%, high) and specificity 98.5% (95% CI 97.1%-99.2%, high); truncal/gait ataxia-10 studies, 1810 patients (increasing severity of truncal ataxia had an increasing sensitivity for central etiology, sensitivity 69.7% [43.3%-87.9%, low] and specificity 83.7% [95% CI 52.1%-96.0%, low]); dysmetria signs-four studies, 1135 patients, sensitivity 24.6% (95% CI 15.6%-36.5%, high) and specificity 97.8% (94.4%-99.2%, high); head impulse test (HIT)-17 studies, 1366 patients, sensitivity 76.8% (64.4%-85.8%, low) and specificity 89.1% (95% CI 75.8%-95.6%, moderate); spontaneous nystagmus-six studies, 621 patients, sensitivity 52.3% (29.8%-74.0%, moderate) and specificity 42.0% (95% CI 15.5%-74.1%, moderate); nystagmus type-16 studies, 1366 patients (bidirectional, vertical, direction changing, or pure torsional nystagmus are consistent with a central cause of vertigo, sensitivity 50.7% [95% CI 41.1%-60.2%, moderate] and specificity 98.5% [95% CI 91.7%-99.7%, moderate]); test of skew-15 studies, 1150 patients (skew deviation is abnormal and consistent with central etiology, sensitivity was 23.7% [95% CI 15%-35.4%, moderate] and specificity 97.6% [95% CI 96%-98.6%, moderate]); HINTS (head impulse, nystagmus, test of skew)-14 studies, 1781 patients, sensitivity 92.9% (95% CI 79.1%-97.9%, high) and specificity 83.4% (95% CI 69.6%-91.7%, moderate); and HINTS+ (HINTS with hearing component)-five studies, 342 patients, sensitivity 99.0% (95% CI 73.6%-100%, high) and specificity 84.8% (95% CI 70.1%-93.0%, high).
CONCLUSIONS
Most neurologic examination findings have low sensitivity and high specificity for a central cause in patients with acute vertigo or dizziness. In acute vestibular syndrome (monophasic, continuous, persistent dizziness), HINTS and HINTS+ have high sensitivity when performed by trained clinicians.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Dizziness; Stroke; Vertigo; Emergency Service, Hospital; Nystagmus, Pathologic; Physical Examination
PubMed: 36453134
DOI: 10.1111/acem.14630 -
Journal of Vestibular Research :... 2021This paper describes the diagnostic criteria for "Vestibular Migraine of Childhood", "probable Vestibular Migraine of Childhood" and "Recurrent Vertigo of Childhood" as...
Vestibular Migraine of Childhood and Recurrent Vertigo of Childhood: Diagnostic criteria Consensus document of the Committee for the Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society and the International Headache Society.
This paper describes the diagnostic criteria for "Vestibular Migraine of Childhood", "probable Vestibular Migraine of Childhood" and "Recurrent Vertigo of Childhood" as put forth by the Committee for the Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society (ICVD) and the Migraine Classification subgroup of the International Headache Society. Migraine plays an important role in some subgroups of children with recurrent vertigo. In this classification paper a spectrum of three disorders is described in which the migraine component varies from definite to possibly absent. These three disorders are: Vestibular Migraine of Childhood, probable Vestibular Migraine of Childhood and Recurrent Vertigo of Childhood. The criteria for Vestibular Migraine of Childhood (VMC) include (A) at least five episodes with vestibular symptoms of moderate or severe intensity, lasting between five minutes and 72 hours, (B) a current or past history of migraine with or without aura, and (C) at least half of episodes are associated with at least one migraine feature. Probable Vestibular Migraine of Childhood (probable VMC) is considered when at least three episodes with vestibular symptoms of moderate or severe intensity, lasting between five minutes and 72 hours, are accompanied by at least criterion B or C from the VMC criteria. Recurrent Vertigo of Childhood (RVC) is diagnosed in case of at least three episodes with vestibular symptoms of moderate or severe intensity, lasting between 1 minute and 72 hours, and none of the criteria B and C for VMC are applicable. For all disorders, the age of the individual needs to be below 18 years old. It is recommended that future research should particularly focus on RVC, in order to investigate and identify possible subtypes and its links or its absence thereof with migraine.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Consensus; Dizziness; Headache; Humans; Migraine Disorders; Vertigo
PubMed: 33386837
DOI: 10.3233/VES-200003 -
BMC Geriatrics Nov 2020Vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders (VDB) are among the most relevant contributors to the burden of disability among older adults living in the community and...
BACKGROUND
Vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders (VDB) are among the most relevant contributors to the burden of disability among older adults living in the community and associated with immobility, limitations of activities of daily living and decreased participation. The aim of this study was to identify the quality of evidence of physical therapy interventions that address mobility and participation in older patients with VDB and to characterize the used primary and secondary outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic search via MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PEDro, forward citation tracing and hand search was conducted initially in 11/2017 and updated in 7/2019. We included individual and cluster-randomized controlled trials and trials with quasi-experimental design, published between 2007 and 2017/2019 and including individuals ≥65 years with VDB. Physical therapy and related interventions were reviewed with no restrictions to outcome measurement. Screening of titles, abstracts and full texts, data extraction and critical appraisal was conducted by two independent researchers. The included studies were heterogeneous in terms of interventions and outcome measures. Therefore, a narrative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS
A total of 20 randomized and 2 non-randomized controlled trials with 1876 patients met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were heterogeneous in terms of complexity of interventions, outcome measures and methodological quality. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) was examined in twelve studies, computer-assisted VR (CAVR) in five, Tai Chi as VR (TCVR) in three, canal repositioning manoeuvres (CRM) in one and manual therapy (MT) in one study. Mixed effects were found regarding body structure/function and activities/participation. Quality of life and/or falls were assessed, with no differences between groups. VR is with moderate quality of evidence superior to usual care to improve balance, mobility and symptoms.
CONCLUSION
To treat older individuals with VDB, VR in any variation and in addition to CRMs seems to be effective. High-quality randomized trials need to be conducted to inform clinical decision making.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017080291 .
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dizziness; Humans; Physical Therapy Modalities; Quality of Life; Vertigo
PubMed: 33228601
DOI: 10.1186/s12877-020-01899-9 -
JAMA Neurology Sep 2022Acute vertigo can be disabling. Antihistamines and benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed as "vestibular suppressants," but their efficacy is unclear. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
IMPORTANCE
Acute vertigo can be disabling. Antihistamines and benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed as "vestibular suppressants," but their efficacy is unclear.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of antihistamines and benzodiazepines in the treatment of acute vertigo from any underlying cause.
DATA SOURCES
We searched the PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases from inception to January 14, 2019, without language restrictions. Bibliographies of the included studies and relevant reviews were also screened.
STUDY SELECTION
We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing antihistamine or benzodiazepine use with another comparator, placebo, or no intervention for patients with a duration of acute vertigo for 2 weeks or less. Studies of healthy volunteers, prophylactic treatment, or induced vertigo were excluded, as were studies that compared 2 medications from the same class.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS
Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, data were extracted and risk of bias was assessed by 2 authors independently for each study. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The predefined primary outcome was change in 10- or 100-point vertigo or dizziness visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 2 hours after treatment. Secondary outcomes included change in nausea VAS scores at 2 hours, use of rescue medication at 2 hours, and improvement or resolution of vertigo at 1 week or 1 month.
RESULTS
Of the 27 trials identified in the systematic review, 17 contributed to the quantitative meta-analysis and involved a total of 1586 participants. Seven trials with a total of 802 participants evaluated the primary outcome of interest: single-dose antihistamines resulted in significantly more improvement on 100-point VAS scores compared with benzodiazepines (difference, 16.1 [95% CI, 7.2 to 25.0]) but not compared with other active comparators (difference, 2.7 [95% CI, -6.1 to 11.5]). At 1 week and 1 month, neither daily benzodiazepines nor antihistamines were reported to be superior to placebo. RCTs comparing the immediate effects of medications (at 2 hours) after a single dose generally had a low risk of bias, but those evaluating 1-week and 1-month outcomes had a high risk of bias.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
Moderately strong evidence suggests that single-dose antihistamines provide greater vertigo relief at 2 hours than single-dose benzodiazepines. Furthermore, the available evidence did not support an association of benzodiazepine use with improvement in any outcomes for acute vertigo. Other evidence suggested that daily antihistamine use may not benefit patients with acute vertigo. Larger randomized trials comparing both antihistamines and benzodiazepines with placebo could better clarify the relative efficacy of these medications.
Topics: Benzodiazepines; Histamine Antagonists; Humans; Vertigo
PubMed: 35849408
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.1858 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... Dec 2021Diagnosing stroke in dizzy patients remains a challenge in emergency medicine. The accuracy of the neuroophthalmologic examination HINTS performed by emergency...
BACKGROUND
Diagnosing stroke in dizzy patients remains a challenge in emergency medicine. The accuracy of the neuroophthalmologic examination HINTS performed by emergency physicians (EPs) is unknown. Our objective was to determine the accuracy of the HINTS examination performed by trained EPs for diagnosing central cause of acute vertigo and unsteadiness and to compare it with another bedside clinical tool, STANDING, and with the history-based score ABCD2.
METHODS
This was a prospective diagnostic cohort study among patients with isolated vertigo and unsteadiness seen in a single emergency department (ED). Trained EPs performed HINTS and STANDING tests blinded to attending physicians. ABCD2 ≥ 4 was used as the threshold and was calculated retrospectively. The criterion standard was diffusion-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Peripheral diagnoses were established by a normal MRI, and etiologies were further refined by an otologic examination.
RESULTS
We included 300 patients of whom 62 had a central lesion on neuroimaging including 49 strokes (79%). Of the 238 peripheral diagnoses, 159 were vestibulopathies, mainly benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (40%). HINTS and STANDING tests reached high sensitivities at 97% and 94% and NPVs at 99% and 98%, respectively. The ABCD2 score failed to predict half of central vertigo cases and had a sensitivity of 55% and a NPV of 87%. The STANDING test was more specific and had a better positive predictive value (PPV; 75% and 49%, respectively; positive likelihood ratio [LR+] = 3.71, negative likelihood ratio [LR-] = 0.09) than the HINTS test (67% and 44%, respectively; LR+ = 2.96, LR- = 0.04). The ABCD2 score was specific (82%, LR+ = 3.04, LR- = 0.56) but had a very low PPV (44%).
CONCLUSIONS
In the hands of EPs, HINTS and STANDING tests outperformed ABCD2 in identifying central causes of vertigo. For diagnosing peripheral disorders, the STANDING algorithm is more specific than the HINTS test. HINTS and STANDING could be useful tools saving both time and costs related to unnecessary neuroimaging use.
Topics: Cohort Studies; Dizziness; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Stroke; Vertigo
PubMed: 34245635
DOI: 10.1111/acem.14337 -
Cephalalgia : An International Journal... Mar 2015The combination of vertigo, dizziness and balance disturbance with migraine is called vestibular migraine. Although it is estimated that up to 1% of the population... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The combination of vertigo, dizziness and balance disturbance with migraine is called vestibular migraine. Although it is estimated that up to 1% of the population suffers from this disease, it is still widely unknown and often underdiagnosed. Recently, the International Headache Society and the Báràny Society published the first joint document with mutually accepted diagnostic criteria for vestibular migraine.
METHOD
This review summarizes current knowledge on vestibular migraine with regard to epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and therapeutic options.
RESULTS
Approximately 30-50% of patients with migraine report vertigo, dizziness or balance disturbances with at least one migraine attack. Vestibular migraine often appears in a temporal delay to the first onset of migraine headache. In some patients the symptom of sudden onset disequilibrium was the main complaint and more worrisome than the accompanying migraine headache. The duration of attacks varies from a few seconds up to few days. The underlying pathophysiology of vestibular migraine is still widely unknown. As an important differential diagnosis, Ménière's disease has to be considered and excluded.
CONCLUSION
As randomized controlled treatment trials are still missing in vestibular migraine, the therapeutic recommendations for vestibular migraine are currently based on the guidelines of migraine.
Topics: Dizziness; Humans; Migraine Disorders; Vertigo; Vestibular Diseases
PubMed: 24847169
DOI: 10.1177/0333102414535113 -
JAMA Neurology Mar 2023Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo with frequent recurrences. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
IMPORTANCE
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo with frequent recurrences.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of a web-based diagnosis and treatment of BPPV when it recurs in patients with confirmed and treated BPPV.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
This randomized, controlled, parallel-group, double-blind trial took place in multiple referral-based university hospitals in South Korea between July 2017 and February 2020. Of 728 patients (age ≥20 years) with diagnosed and treated BPPV, 585 were enrolled after excluding 143 who declined participation, could not use the internet, or had spinal problems, multicanal BPPV, or cognitive dysfunction. Patients were followed up for recurrence at least for 2 years until February 2022.
INTERVENTIONS
Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to the treatment or control group. The patients in the treatment group completed a questionnaire for diagnosis and received a video clip for self-administration of canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM) according to the type of BPPV diagnosed when they experienced positional vertigo again. Patients in the control group received a video clip for self-administration of CRM according to the type of BPPV that had been diagnosed on enrollment.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES
The primary outcome was self-reported resolution of positional vertigo post-CRM. Secondary outcomes included difficulties and requirement for assistance when using the program and any falls or other adverse events related to CRM. The primary outcome was analyzed using both intention-to-treat and per-protocol methods.
RESULTS
Of 585 patients enrolled, 292 were randomized to the treatment group (mean [SD] age, 60.3 [12.8] years, 37 [64%] women) and 293 were randomized to the control group (mean [SD] age, 61.1 [13.2] years; 50 [71%] women). Overall, 128 (21.9%) had recurrence (58 in the treatment group and 70 in the control group), and 109 (85.2%) successfully used the web-based system. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 42 of 58 individuals (72.4%) in the treatment group and 30 of 70 individuals (42.9%) in the control group reported vertigo resolution (χ2 test: 95% CI, 0.13-0.46; P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This trial proved the efficacy of a web-based system for the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent BPPV. Use of this system may play an important role in telemedicine for vestibular disorders.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0002364.
Topics: Humans; Female; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Adult; Male; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo; Patient Positioning; Self Administration; Double-Blind Method; Republic of Korea
PubMed: 36648931
DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4944 -
Missouri Medicine 2022Posterior fossa lesions can occur in patients of all ages. Patients present with subtle findings of hearing loss, tinnitus, headache, cranial neuropathies, imbalance,... (Review)
Review
Posterior fossa lesions can occur in patients of all ages. Patients present with subtle findings of hearing loss, tinnitus, headache, cranial neuropathies, imbalance, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting depending on the location and type of lesion. The presentation can be particularly insidious as the most common symptom is slowly progressive hearing loss. Posterior fossa lesions should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with this presentation and appropriate audiologic testing and imaging should be performed. Management involves collaboration between multiple subspecialties and has evolved significantly over the years leading to increased patient involvement and improved outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Hearing Loss; Deafness; Tinnitus; Vertigo; Diagnosis, Differential
PubMed: 36588644
DOI: No ID Found