scholarly journals Spontaneous Direction-Changing or Reversing Positional Nystagmus without Changing Head Position during Head-Roll/Head-Hanging Maneuvers: Biphasic Positional Nystagmus

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
Sertac Yetiser

Background and Objectives: Conflicting mechanisms have been reported about spontaneous reversal of positional nystagmus during head-roll maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The objective of this study is to review the reports about the characteristics and possible mechanisms of reversing positional nystagmus and to present seven new cases.Subjects and Methods: Seven cases (5 males, 2 females; 4 left-sided, 3 right-sided) were recruited among 732 patients with BPPV seen outpatient clinic between 2009 and 2019. Diagnosis of lateral canal canalolithiasis was confirmed when transient geotropic nystagmus was documented during head-roll test. Reversing positional nystagmus was analyzed in each case and clinical characteristics of the patients were documented.Results: The age of patients was ranging between 30 to 64 years (46.44±10.91). Duration of symptoms was short (21.34±19.74). Six of them had a story of head trauma. Initial latency was short. First, intense geotropic nystagmus was observed following provocative head-roll position on the affected side. There was short “silent phase”. Then, a longer second-phase of reversed nystagmus was noted. Total duration of nystagmus was 78.40±6.82 seconds. Maximal slow phase velocity was 24.05±6.34 deg/sec. All patients were cured with barbeque maneuver.Conclusions: Ipsilateral reversing positional nystagmus during head-roll maneuver is due to lateral canal canalolithiasis. Mechanism is likely to be due to endolymphatic double flow. Bilateral cases may be due to simultaneous co-existence of canalolithiasis and cupulolithiasis. Longer recording of nystagmus is recommended not to miss the cases with spontaneous direction-changing positional nystagmus.

1995 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 649-656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric E. Smouha ◽  
Claudia Roussos

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of vertigo, and has a typical constellation of physical findings. Atypical forms of paroxysmal positional nystagmus (APPN) also exist, and are thought to represent conditions which are in fact not “benign”. We studied 100 consecutive patients with positional vertigo in order to learn whether APPN differed from classic BPPV in etiology or clinical fate, and to learn the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) disorders in these patients. APPN was present in 38% of these patients with diverse causes. One-fourth had CNS disorders or vascular insufficiency, the remainder, otogenic or idiopathic. APPN was more likely than BPPV to have a prolonged (persistent or recurring) clinical course. Although most cases eventually resolved, duration of symptoms tended to be longer, regardless of etiology. We conclude that APPN has a less favorable prognosis than typical BPPV, and that a CNS etiology should be suspected in prolonged cases.


Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (24) ◽  
pp. e2743-e2753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison S. Young ◽  
Corinna Lechner ◽  
Andrew P. Bradshaw ◽  
Hamish G. MacDougall ◽  
Deborah A. Black ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo facilitate the diagnosis of vestibular disorders by patient-initiated capture of ictal nystagmus.MethodsAdults from an Australian neurology outpatient clinic reporting recurrent vertigo were recruited prospectively and taught to self-record spontaneous and positional nystagmus at home while symptomatic, using miniature video-oculography goggles. Consenting patients with ictal videorecordings and a final unblinded clinical diagnosis of Ménière disease (MD), vestibular migraine (VM), or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) were included.ResultsIctal eye videos of 117 patients were analyzed. Of 43 patients with MD, 40 showed high-velocity spontaneous horizontal nystagmus (median slow-phase velocity [SPV] 39.7°/s; 21 showed horizontal nystagmus reversing direction within 12 hours [24 on separate days]). In 44 of 67 patients with VM, spontaneous horizontal (n = 28, 4.9°/s), upbeating (n = 6, 15.5°/s), or downbeating nystagmus (n = 10, 5.1°/s) was observed; 16 showed positional nystagmus only, and 7 had no nystagmus. Spontaneous horizontal nystagmus with SPV >12.05°/s had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.3% and 82.1% for MD (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84–0.99, 0.71–0.90). Nystagmus direction change within 12 hours was highly specific (95.7%) for MD (95% CI 0.85–0.99). Spontaneous vertical nystagmus was highly specific (93.0%) for VM (95% CI 0.81–0.99). In the 7 patients with BPPV, spontaneous nystagmus was absent or <3°/s. Lying affected-ear down, patients with BPPV demonstrated paroxysmal positional nystagmus. Median time for peak SPV to halve (T50) was 19.0 seconds. Patients with VM and patients with MD demonstrated persistent positional nystagmus (median T50; 93.1 seconds, 213.2 seconds). T50s <47.3 seconds had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 77.8% for BPPV (95% CI 0.54–1.00, 0.64–0.88).ConclusionPatient-initiated vestibular event monitoring is feasible and could facilitate rapid and accurate diagnosis of episodic vestibular disorders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Akihide Ichimura ◽  
Shigeto Itani

Here, we report a patient with persistent positional upbeat nystagmus in a straight supine position with no evident abnormal central nervous system findings. A 43-year-old woman with rotatory positional vertigo and nausea visited our clinic 7 days after the onset. Initially, we observed persistent upbeat nystagmus in straight supine position with a latency of 2 s during the supine head roll test. However, an upbeat nystagmus disappeared on turning from straight to the left ear-down supine position, and while turning from the left to right ear-down position, an induced slight torsional nystagmus towards the right for >22 s was observed. In the Dix–Hallpike test, the left head-hanging position provoked torsional nystagmus towards the right for 50 s. In prone seated position, downbeat nystagmus with torsional component towards the left was observed for 45 s. Neurological examination and brain computed tomography revealed no abnormal findings. We speculated that persistent positional upbeat nystagmus in this patient was the result of canalolithiasis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of bilateral posterior semicircular canals.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Patel Meghraj Singh

Background: - Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of vertigo. The diagnosis is often delayed and patients are unnecessarily investigated and treated with drugs. Aim: To analyze the patient profile, duration of symptoms, etiology, associated co-morbidities, type of canal involvement and response to CRP in cases of BPPV. Material & Methods: The present prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care centre from January 2015 to December 2016 in 90 patients with a clinical diagnosis of BPPV. Patient particular and disease specific data were recorded in preset profoma and analyzed. All these patients were treated by different CRP specific for the canal involved. All cases were reassessed for post procedural response. Results: Total 90 patients were included in the study with age range of 20 to 76 year. Mean age was 46.74. Maximum patients (26.67%) were in the age range of 41-50 year with male: female was 1:1.43. The duration of symptoms was in from 2 days to more than 3 years. Most common morbidity was diabetes and most common cause was Idiopathic (82.22%). Most of these patients presented with positional vertigo (94.44%). Right posterior canal was involved in 52 cases (57.78%) and left in 30 (33.33%) cases. Conclusion: BPPV is a common cause of vertigo. More awareness needed about its symptoms, early application of Dix-Hallpike test and Epley’s procedure to reduce the suffering of patients and to reduce unnecessary diagnostic tests and costs.


2006 ◽  
Vol 120 (7) ◽  
pp. 528-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Korres ◽  
D G Balatsouras ◽  
E Ferekidis

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic factors in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) treated with canalith repositioning procedures (CRPs).Material and methods: Retrospective study of consecutive BPPV cases diagnosed over three years. All patients underwent a complete otolaryngologic, audiologic and neurotologic evaluation. The appropriate CRP was performed, depending on the type of BPPV. Prognostic factors studied included age, sex, aetiology, duration of disease, abnormal electronystagmographic findings, canal involvement, improper performance of manoeuvres, response on first or repeat treatment, and presence of recurrences.Results: One hundred and fifty-five patients were studied, 66 men and 89 women, with mean ages of 58.7 and 60.4 years, respectively. Age and the involvement of two canals or bilateral disease had an effect on initial treatment outcome and were correlated to increased recurrences but not to repeat treatment outcome. Secondary BPPV, abnormal electronystagmographic findings and improper performance of manoeuvres had a significant effect both on initial and repeat treatment, but not on recurrences. Sex and duration of symptoms had no effect.Conclusion: Canalith repositioning procedures provide fast and long-lasting treatment of BPPV in most patients. However, in a small subgroup of patients, failures may be noticed that may be attributed to various prognostic factors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (e7) ◽  
pp. A8.2-A8
Author(s):  
Allison S Young ◽  
Corinna Lechner ◽  
Andrew P Bradshaw ◽  
Hamish G MacDougall ◽  
Deborah A Black ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe diagnosis of vestibular disorders may be facilitated by analysing patient-initiated capture of ictal nystagmus.MethodsAdults with a history of recurrent vertigo were taught to self-record spontaneous and positional-nystagmus at home while symptomatic, using video-goggles. Patients with final diagnoses of disorders presenting with recurrent vertigo were analysed: 121 patients with Ménière’s Disease (MD), Vestibular Migraine (VM), Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV), Episodic Ataxia Type II (EAII), Vestibular Paroxysmia (VP) or Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence (SSCD) were included.ResultsOf 43 MD patients, 40 showed high-velocity spontaneous horizontal-nystagmus (median slow-phase velocity (SPV) 39.7 degrees/second (°/s); Twenty-one showed horizontal-nystagmus reversing direction within 12-hours (24 on separate days). In 44 of 67 patients with VM, low velocity spontaneous horizontal (n=28, 4.9°/s), up-beating (n=6, 15.5°/s) or down-beating-nystagmus (n=10, 5.1°/s) was observed; Sixteen showed positional-nystagmus only, and seven had no nystagmus. Spontaneous horizontal-nystagmus with SPV >12.05°/s had a sensitivity and specificity of 95.3% and 82.1% for MD. Nystagmus direction-change within 12-hours was highly specific (95.7%) for MD. Spontaneous vertical-nystagmus was highly specific (93.0%) for VM. In the seven BPV patients, spontaneous-nystagmus was absent or <3°/s, and characteristic paroxysmal positional nystagmus was observed in all cases. Patients with central and MD-related positional vertigo demonstrated persistent nystagmus. Two patients with EAII showed spontaneous vertical nystagmus, one patient with VP showed short bursts of horizontal-torsional nystagmus lasting 5–10s, and one patient with SSCD demonstrated paroxysmal torsional down-beating nystagmus when supine.ConclusionsPatient-initiated vestibular event-monitoring is feasible and could facilitate rapid and accurate diagnosis of episodic vestibular disorders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 345-352
Author(s):  
Allison S. Young ◽  
Sally M. Rosengren ◽  
Mario D’Souza ◽  
Andrew P. Bradshaw ◽  
Miriam S. Welgampola

BACKGROUND: Healthy controls exhibit spontaneous and positional nystagmus which needs to be distinguished from pathological nystagmus. OBJECTIVE: Define nystagmus characteristics of healthy controls using portable video-oculography. METHODS: One-hundred and one asymptomatic community-dwelling adults were prospectively recruited. Participants answered questions regarding their audio-vestibular and headache history and were sub-categorized into migraine/non-migraine groups. Portable video-oculography was conducted in the upright, supine, left- and right-lateral positions, using miniature take-home video glasses. RESULTS: Upright position spontaneous nystagmus was found in 30.7% of subjects (slow-phase velocity (SPV)), mean 1.1±2.2 degrees per second (°/s) (range 0.0 – 9.3). Upright position spontaneous nystagmus was horizontal, up-beating or down-beating in 16.7, 7.9 and 5.9% of subjects. Nystagmus in at least one lying position was found in 70.3% of subjects with 56.4% showing nystagmus while supine, and 63.4% in at least one lateral position. While supine, 20.8% of subjects showed up-beating nystagmus, 8.9% showed down-beating, and 26.7% had horizontal nystagmus. In the lateral positions combined, 37.1% displayed horizontal nystagmus on at least one side, while 6.4% showed up-beating, 6.4% showed down-beating. Mean nystagmus SPVs in the supine, right and left lateral positions were 2.2±2.8, 2.7±3.4, and 2.1±3.2°/s. No significant difference was found between migraine and non-migraine groups for nystagmus SPVs, prevalence, vertical vs horizontal fast-phase, or low- vs high-velocity nystagmus (<5 vs > 5°/s). CONCLUSIONS: Healthy controls without a history of spontaneous vertigo show low velocity spontaneous and positional nystagmus, highlighting the importance of interictal nystagmus measures when assessing the acutely symptomatic patient.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Sung Kyun Kim ◽  
Sung Won Li ◽  
Seok Min Hong

Background: Persistent geotropic direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN) has the characteristics of cupulopathy, but its underlying pathogenesis is not known. We investigated the relationship of the results of the head roll test, bow and lean test, and side of the null plane between persistent and transient geotropic DCPN to determine the lesion side of persistent geotropic DCPN and understand its mechanism. Methods: We enrolled 25 patients with persistent geotropic DCPN and 41 with transient geotropic DCPN. We compared the results of the head roll test, bow and lean test, and side of the null plane between the two groups. Results: The rates of bowing and leaning nystagmus were significantly higher in the persistent DCPN group. Only 16.0% of the persistent DCPN patients had stronger nystagmus in the head roll test and the null plane on the same side. The rates of the direction of bowing nystagmus in the bow and lean test and stronger nystagmus in the head roll test on the same side were also significantly lower in persistent DCPN than in transient DCPN. Conclusion: It was difficult to determine the lesion side in persistent geotropic DCPN using the direction of stronger nystagmus in the head roll test and null plane when the direction of the stronger nystagmus and null plane were opposite. Further study is needed to understand the position of the cupula according to head rotation and the anatomical position in persistent geotropic DCPN.


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