Clinical characteristics of vestibular paroxysmia in a northern Chinese cohort of 70 patients / 中风与神经疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

@#Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of vestibular paroxysmia （VP）： age distribution，triggers，accompanying symptoms，maximum frequency per day，nystagmus features during attacks，and neurovascular compression. Methods The clinical data of 70 patients with VP were collected to analyze their age distribution，triggers，accompanying symptoms，maximum frequency per day，nystagmus features during attacks，and neurovascular compression by using descriptive statistical methods. Results Among the 70 patients with VP，30 （42.86%） were elderly，23 （32.86%） were young，and 17 （24.29%） were middle-aged patients. The maximum frequency per day was 2-5 in 53 cases （75.71%），6-10 in 9 cases （12.86%），and >10 in 8 cases （11.43%）. Thirty-six patients （51.43%） had triggers，including rapid walking，emotional excitement，driving，cycling，sexual intercourse，coughing or wheezing，speaking or chatting，bathing，defecation，drinking alcohol，and sound stimulation. Thirty-three patients （47.14%） had unilateral tinnitus，bilateral tinnitus，and tinnitus with facial spasms； nystagmus during VP episodes met the characteristics of the head coordinate system，which was horizontal-torsional towards the affected side. Among 57 patients examined for the relationship between the vestibulocochlear nerve and vessels using magnetic resonance angiography，37 patients （64.91%） had contact between the vestibulocochlear nerve and the right anterior inferior cerebellar artery，15 patients （26.32%） had contact between the vestibulocochlear nerve and the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery，and 5 patients （8.77%） had contact between the vestibulocochlear nerve and the basilar artery. Conclusion VP is most prevalent in the elderly，then young and middle-aged people. Most patients with VP have a maximum frequency of 2-5 per day. VP can be triggered by anger，excitement，exercise，and various stimuli. VP attacks can be accompanied by tinnitus and facial spasms. Its nystagmus is horizontal-torsional towards the affected side. The percentage of contact between the vestibulocochlear nerve and the right anterior inferior cerebellar artery is highest in patients with VP.