Res Vestib Sci.  2014 Mar;13(1):7-11.

Clinical Characteristics and Course of Recurrent Vestibulopathy Following Diuretics Medication

• Ko JS
• Kim HY
• Hur DG
• Ahn SK

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Recurrent vestibulopathy (RV) is a clinical syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by multiple episodic vertigo without auditory or neurological signs or symptoms. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and the natural course of RV with diuretics medication.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
During the period January 2008 to December 2010, we reviewed the clinical records of 30 patients diagnosed with RV. All patients were given hydrochlorothiazide medication at least 3 months, approached by telephone and using a questionnaire to make a long term follow-up. 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 29 months (range, 27-37 months). Patients had a mean age at onset of 48.2 years and a mean duration of 2.75 years. An obvious female predilection was found, and unilateral caloric paresis (> or =25%) was seen in 23.3%. Of the 30 patients, symptoms resolved in 80% but were unchanged in 20%. No patient with RV developed a central nervous system disease or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo during follow-up.
CONCLUSION
The present study shows that in the majority of cases, vertigo resolved following diuretics medication. In cases of the patients with severe or disabling recurrent vestibulopathy, the diuretics medication may be effective in reducing the frequency of vertigo attacks.

Keyword

Vertigo, benign recurrent; Diuretics

MeSH Terms

Audiometry
Central Nervous System
Diuretics*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hydrochlorothiazide
Natural History
Paresis
Surveys and Questionnaires
Sex Distribution
Telephone
Vertigo
Vestibular Neuronitis*
Diuretics
Hydrochlorothiazide