Selective Asymmetry of Ocular Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential in Patients with Acute Utricular Macula Loss

J Int Adv Otol. 2021 Jan;17(1):58-63. doi: 10.5152/iao.2020.18012020.

Abstract

Objectives: We retrospectively evaluated a chart review of 3,525 patients evaluated for any acute disturbance. A total of 1,504 patients with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) received an instrumental vestibular assessment within 72 h from the onset of the symptoms evaluated using simultaneously a combination of ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMPs), cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMPs), video head-impulse test (vHIT), and subjective visual vertical (SVV) were included in this study.

Materials and methods: A total of 41 patients with AVS that showed a normal horizontal canal function tested with vHIT, a normal cVEMP function, unilaterally reduced or absent oVEMP n10, and an altered SVV were enrolled.

Results: We found that although these patients referred acute vertigo and presented spontaneous nystagmus, they showed physiological values of vHIT and a normal saccular function, as shown by symmetrical cVEMPs.

Conclusion: Our findings support the hypothesis that a percentage of patients evaluated during an AVS using an instrumental vestibular assessment could present selective utricular macula dysfunction.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Head Impulse Test
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Semicircular Canals
  • Vertigo
  • Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials*