Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2016 Jan;59(1):15-18. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.1.15.

Influence of Diazepam on Video Head Impulse Test in Patients with Acute Vestibular Neuritis: Preliminary Study

• Kim M
• Hong KM

• KMID: 2277938
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2016.59.1.15

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Although video head impulse test (V-HIT) has emerged as a popular test for vestibular function, there have been no reports about the influence of benzodiazepine on the test. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of diazepam on the V-HIT in patients with acute vestibular neuritis.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
We retrospectively analyzed charts and medical records of 10 patients diagnosed with acute vestibular neuritis. The patients repeated V-HIT before and after intravenous (IV) injection of diazepam. Gain and presence of catch-up saccade (CUS) were compared.
RESULTS
Gain in the affected ear was decreased compared to that in the unaffected ear. After the injection of IV diazepam, the presence of CUS was not changed significantly. Gain of CUS in V-HIT was also unchanged both in the affected and unaffected ear after the injection of IV diazepam.
CONCLUSION
The influence of IV diazepam on the gain and presence of CUS in V-HIT were insignificant, indicating that it could be considered as a useful test to evaluate vestibular function in patients treated with diazepam.

Keyword

Diazepam; Vestibular function test; Video head impulse test

MeSH Terms

Benzodiazepines
Diazepam*
Ear
Head Impulse Test*
Head*
Humans
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Saccades
Vestibular Function Tests
Vestibular Neuronitis*
Benzodiazepines
Diazepam