A 61-year-old male patient undergoing chemotherapy for esophageal cancer presented with symptoms of rightward tilting while both sitting and walking. A neurological examination revealed a head tilt, skew deviation with hypertrophy of the left eye, and a rightward shift in his gait. No spontaneous nystagmus was observed, and the vestibulo-ocular reflex was normal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed a suspected metastatic lesion in the right medial prefrontal cortex. Following the initiation of levetiracetam treatment, the patient demonstrated marked improvement, with the resolution of both head tilt and skew deviation within 1 month. Traditionally, the ocular tilt reaction has been attributed to unilateral or asymmetric dysfunction of the graviceptive pathways extending from the utricle to the upper midbrain lesions. However, this case highlights the potential involvement of the prefrontal cortex in the ocular tilt reaction. Further research is warranted on the role of the prefrontal cortex within the vestibular system.
The diffuse cerebellar dysfunction as a permanent neurological sequela of organophosphate poisoning has not yet been reported in the published literature. We report a diffuse cerebellar dysfunction as a permanent manifestation of organophosphate poisoning. A 55-year-old man diagnosed with acute organophosphate poisoning was brought to the emergency room of our hospital. He had slurred, monotonous scanning speech with irregularly distributed articulatory deficits, and prominent bilateral limb ataxia. He presented left-beating spontaneous nystagmus with a downbeat component and strong downbeating nystagmus after head shaking. He also showed saccadic hypometria with a normal saccadic velocity at fixed horizontal saccades and symmetrically impaired horizontal smooth pursuit on both sides. The poisoning of organophosphate poisoning may lead to a diffuse permanent cerebellar dysfunction as a neurological sequela event.
We summarized recent diagnostic criteria for hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo included in the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders (ICVD) in this paper. The aim of defining diagnostic criteria of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo is to help clinicians to understand the terminology related to orthostatic dizziness/vertigo and to distinguish orthostatic dizziness/vertigo due to global brain hypoperfusion from that caused by other etiologies. Detailed history taking and measurements of orthostatic blood pressure and heart rate are important for the screening and documentation of orthostatic hypotension or postural tachycardia syndrome to establish the diagnosis of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo.
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Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Stenosis Presenting as Recurrent Orthostatic Dizziness Seongjin Jeon, Ji-Yun Park, Jong-min Lee, Seulgi Hong Research in Vestibular Science.2022; 21(2): 53. CrossRef
Objectives Over the last decades, numerous studies on the effect of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) have been reported in western countries, but there has been no report about real experiences of customized VR in Korea. The aim of this study was to analyze of the efficacy, compliance and satisfaction in patients with acute and chronic dizziness.
Methods Patients with dizziness were treated with a customized VR at least 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed before and after at least 4 weeks of customized VR for visual analogue scale (VAS) and disability scale (DS). Patients were asked to score the satisfaction of their treatment as 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent). Compliance to exercise program were graded as 1 (regularly performed), 2 (frequently performed), or 3 (rarely performed).
Results Thirty-two patients with dizziness were included. Diagnosis of patients were vestibular migraine (n=5), Meniere’s disease (n=2), vestibular neuritis (n=10), persistent perceptual positional dizziness (n=10), bilateral vestibulopathy (n=3), and central dizziness (n=2). Mean VAS and DS before VR were 15.3 and 2.4, respectively. Mean VAS and DS after VR were 4.5 and 0.7, respectively. Significant improvements in VAS and DS were observed after VR (p=0.00). Mean treatment satisfaction score was 3.3±1.0 and mean compliance score was 2.3±0.8. Satisfaction to VR showed positive correlation with patient’s compliance. (p=0.00, r=0.644)
Conclusions Significant improvements were seen in symptom and disability in patients with acute and chronic dizziness after customized VR. Patients showed moderate compliance to exercise program and overall satisfaction was fair.
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A Survey of Educational, Clinical Background in Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy of Korean Physical Therapists Migyoung Kweon, Youn Bum Sung The Journal of Korean Academy of Physical Therapy .2023; 30(2): 65. CrossRef
Factors Associated with Patient Satisfaction in Customized Vestibular Exercise: A Pilot Study Hye Soo Ryu, Min Young Lee, Jae Yun Jung, Ji Eun Choi Research in Vestibular Science.2019; 18(3): 71. CrossRef
Background Over the last decades, numerous studies on the effect of Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) have been reported in western countries, but there has been no report about real experiences of customized VR in Korea. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze of the efficacy, compliance and satisfaction in patients with acute and chronic dizziness. Methods: Patients with dizziness were treated with a customized VR at least 4 weeks. Subjects were assessed before and after at least 4 weeks of customized VR for visual analog scale (VAS) and disability scale (DS). Patients were asked to score the satisfaction of their treatment as 1 (very poor) to 5 (excellent). Compliance to exercise program were graded as 1 (regularly performed), 2 (frequently performed) or 3 (rarely performed). Results: 32 patients with dizziness were included. Diagnosis of patients were vestibular migraine (n=5), Meniere’s disease (n=2), vestibular neuritis (n=10), persistent perceptual positional dizziness (n=10), bilateral vestibulopathy (n=3) and central dizziness (n=2). Mean VAS and DS before VR were 15.3 and 2.4, respectively. Mean VAS and DS after VR were 4.5 and 0.7, respectively. Significant improvements in VAS and DS were observed after VR. (p=0.00) Mean treatment satisfaction score was 3.3± 1.0 and mean compliance score was 2.3 ± 0.8. Satisfaction to VR showed positive correlation with patient’s compliance. (p=0.00, r=0.644) Conclusion: Significant improvements were seen in symptom and disability in patients with acute and chronic dizziness after customized VR. Patients showed moderate compliance to exercise program and overall satisfaction was fair.
Objectives This study was conducted to assess the current management status of the vestibular function test laboratories in Korea.
Methods Questionnaire about the management status of the vestibular function test laboratories was sent by email to the entire members of the Korean Balance Society. The contents of questionnaire included situation of employees who perform the tests, the types of vestibular function tests and equipment, frequency of the test and types of dizziness related questionnaires.
Results Forty-nine hospitals and clinics responded. All the 49 respondents answered that they have videonystagmography. Spontaneous nystagmus analysis by videonystagmogrphy was the most frequently tests for patients with dizziness. Questionnaires for dizziness were used by 27 respondents (55.1%) for initial evaluation of the dizziness patients. The Korean version of dizziness handicap inventory was the most frequently used dizziness related questionnaire. Conclusions: We analyzed the current management status of vestibular function test laboratories to comprehend the present condition of the vestibular function test. We think that these results will help to provide a standard for laboratory operations and prepare for the education, focusing on high-demand tests.
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The impact examination of the head tilt size on the subjective visual vertical (SVV) among the normal individuals with ages ranged from 18 to 35 years Mahmoud Rezvani Amin, Hadi Behzad Hearing, Balance and Communication.2022; 20(2): 129. CrossRef
Orthostatic dizziness is a common dizziness syndrome characterized by nonvertiginous lightheadedness when patients rise to stand from a sitting or supine position. Orthostatic dizziness is commonly believed to derive from orthostatic hypotension (OH) or postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Tilt-table test and Valsalva maneuver are standardized methods for evaluating of adrenergic autonomic function and essential for diagnosis of OH and POTS. We described the guidelines and interpretations of the tilt-table test and Valsalva maneuver.
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Interpretation of Autonomic Function Test Kee Hong Park, Eun Hee Sohn Journal of the Korean Neurological Association.2021; 39(2): 61. CrossRef
Orthostatic dizziness is a common dizziness syndrome characterized by non-vertiginous lightheadedness when patients rise to stand from a sitting or supine position. Orthostatic dizziness is commonly believed to derive from orthostatic hypotension (OH) or postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Tilt table test and Valsalva maneuver are standardized methods for evaluating of adrenergic autonomic function and essential for diagnosis of OH and POTS. We described the guidelines and interpretations of the tilt table test and Valsalva maneuver.
Orthostatic or autonomic dizziness is a common complaint in patient who seeking dizzy clinic. Patients with autonomic dizziness presented their dizziness as nonvertiginous dizziness, light-headedness, or fogginess in the head, which are usually exacerbated by physical exertion (but not specific changes in head position), straining (e.g., the Valsalva manuver), and orthostatic challenges. Orthostatic hypotension and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome are two common causes of autonomic dizziness. Because the vestibular system influences both respiratory and cardiovascular control, damage to the central or peripheral vestibular system also can cause to compromise the ability to adjust breathing and blood pressure during movement and changes in posture. Here the author reviews the clinical features of autonomic dizziness from various causes.
Periodic alternating nystagmus (PAN) is characterized by a periodical reversal
in the direction of the nystagmus. Acquired PAN is caused by lesions of the
inferior cerebellar vermis, causing disinhibition of the velocity storage mechanism,
which is mediated by the vestibular nuclei. An eighty-year-old woman with
abscess in midline cerebellum experienced dizziness and imbalance. We observed
short period PAN with 7?8 seconds.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is an exercise-based treatment program
designed to promote vestibular adaptive and compensatory mechanisms already
existing in the human brain. Although the evidence is sparse for improvement
in subjects with central vestibular dysfunction following VRT, it improves
postural stability in cerebellar diseases and reduces subjective complaints and fall
risk in Parkinson disease. Possible mechanisms of recovery after central nervous
system lesions may include neural sprouting, vicarious functions, functional
reorganization, substitution, and plasticity. VRT regimens for patients with central
causes should include balance and gait training, general strengthening and
flexibility exercises, utilization of somatosensory and vision and utilization of
alternate motor control strategies. VRT would be an option to relieve the symptoms
of the many patients who have central dizziness.
Cerebral venous infarction is associated with a wide variety of clinical symptoms and signs, which may often delay appropriate diagnosis. Unilateral vestibular deficit as a presenting sign of cerebral venous infarction has rarely been reported. We report a patient with cerebral venous infarction who had severe prolonged vertigo, vomiting, occipital headache, positive head thrust testing, and unilateral caloric weakness as main clinical features. Although the patient had occipital headache, overall symptoms and signs closely mimicked those of acute peripheral vestibulopathy.
Key Words : Peripheral vestibulopathy, Brain infarction
Vestibular neuritis (VN) is an idiopathic peripheral vestibular syndrome characterized by acute isolated prolonged vertigo. In most cases, it results from inflammation of the vestibular nerve presumably of viral origin. There has been no previous report of VN associated with a vascular cause. We here report a patient with VN of vascular origin who presented with acute onset of prolonged isolated vertigo, a unilateral decreased caloric response, and simultaneously with acute infarcts on brain MRI that were unrelated to patient's vertigo.
Key Words : Vestibular neuritis, Cerebral infarction
Background and Objectives: Body lateropulsion with falling to one side is a well-known clinical feature of stroke in the posterior circulation. Body lateropulsion as an isolated or predominant manifestation of a pontine stroke has not previously been reported. To elucidate the possible mechanisms of patients presenting with body lateropulsion as an isolated or predominant symptom of isolated pontine infarction.
Materials and Method: Between May 2004 and February 2006, out of 134 admitted patients with an isolated pontine stroke we identified 8 consecutive patients (6.0%) in the Keimyung University Stroke Registry who had body lateropulsion as the main presenting symptom.
Results All lesions were localized to the paramedian tegmentum just ventral to the 4th ventricle. All except 1showed a uniform pattern of body lateropulsion, in which the direction of falling was away from the side of infarct. In 2 patients, body lateropulsion was the sole clinical manifestation, whereas the other patients had other neurological signs. All but 1 had contraversive tilting of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). In all cases, the direction of SVV tilt corresponded to the direction of body lateropulsion. The mean net tilt angle was 6.1
Conclusion Based on the known anatomy of ascending vestibular pathways, the SVV tilting, and MRI findings, body lateropulsion probably results from damage to the graviceptive pathway ascending through paramedian pontine tegmentum.
Key Words : Pons, Infarction
Background and Objectives: While it is known that sleep have influence on emergence of rapid eye movements(REMs), namely saccades including fast component of nystagmus, whether spontaneous nystagmus due to vestibular imbalance presents during sleep is still unclear. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether tonic vestibular imbalance appeared as spontaneous nystagmus during the wakeful state could present during REM sleep.
Materials and Method: Overnight polysomnography (PSG) was performed in 7 patients with spontaneous nystagmus due to vestibular neuritis (VN) and 7 control patients without dizziness or any nystagmus. The numbers of horizontal saccades were counted, during 3 minutes samples of the alert state before and after the PSG and the first and last REM sleep.
Results All patients with VN showed significantly more saccades (fast phases of spontaneous nystagmus) towards the side contralateral to their vestibular lesion in the awake state before and after the PSG compared with control group.
By contrast, during REM sleep the patients with VN showed no preponderance in saccade direction (p<0.05). Some brief nystagmoid jerks showed during REM sleep in both patients and controls equally and also had no preponderance in direction.
Conclusion The tonic vestibular imbalance at peripheral level observed during alert state does not appear at the brainstem level during REM sleep. It is suggested that a de-afferentation of the peripheral vestibular input to the REM sleep generating areas may explain an absence of nystagmus during REM sleep in patients with VN.
Key Words : Vestibular imbalance, Nystagmus, REM sleep