AUTHOR=Fu Wei , He Feng , Wei Dong , Bai Ya , Shi Ying , Wang Xiaoming , Han Junliang
TITLE=Recovery Pattern of High-Frequency Acceleration Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex in Unilateral Vestibular Neuritis: A Preliminary Study
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology
VOLUME=10
YEAR=2019
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2019.00085
DOI=10.3389/fneur.2019.00085
ISSN=1664-2295
ABSTRACT=Objective: To explore the recovery pattern of the high-frequency acceleration vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) function in unilateral vestibular neuritis (UVN).
Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients with UVN were recruited within 10 days of symptom onset for this study. The high-frequency acceleration horizontal VOR function was assessed using the video head impulse test (vHIT). Patients returned for follow-up evaluation at ~6 months after the onset of symptoms. According to the dizziness handicap inventory questionnaire (DHI), the patients were classified into the normal to mild dizziness group (DHI score ≤30) and moderate to severe dizziness group (DHI score >30) at the follow-up. All the obtained horizontal vHIT gains and corrective saccades parameters were analyzed.
Results: vHIT results showed a significantly horizontal VOR gain recovery in UVN patients at the follow-up on the lesion side (p < 0.01). A significantly reduction in the occurrence of corrective saccades (overt and covert) and velocity of corrective saccades (overt and covert) were observed at the follow-up (p < 0.05). At the follow-up, the normal to mild dizziness group (DHI score ≤30) had a significantly higher normal rate of VOR gain, the mean vHIT gains and occurrence of isolated covert saccades (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the occurrence of mixed saccades and the mean velocity of covert saccades were significantly lower in normal to mild dizziness group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Apart from the recovery of the VOR gain, recovery pattern of corrective saccades can play a key role in vestibular compensate.