Clinical characteristics and natural course of recurrent vestibulopathy: A long-term follow-up study

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis: To investigate the clinical characteristics and the natural course of recurrent vestibulopathy (RV). Study Design: Retrospective study. Methods: During the period April 2002 to February 2008, we reviewed the clinical records of 98 patients diagnosed with RV. All patients were approached by telephone and using a questionnaire. The analysis included age, sex distribution, natural history, pure-tone audiometry, caloric response, age at onset, and the characteristics of vertigo. Results: Median follow-up was 63.1 months (range, 24-103 months). Patients had a mean age at onset of 39 years and a mean duration of 4.2 years. An obvious female predilection was found, and unilateral caloric paresis (>= 25%) was seen in 35%. Of the 98 patients, symptoms resolved in 82% but were unchanged in 12%. RV developed to Meniere's disease in four patients and to migraine in two. No patient with RV developed a central nervous system disease or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo during follow-up. Conclusions: The study suggests that in the majority of cases, vertigo spontaneously resolves and that the risks of development to Meniere's disease or migraine are low.