J Korean Bal Soc.
2004 Jun;3(1):136-140.
Recurrent Episodic Vertigo Controlled by Phenytoin Sodium
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
- 2Medical Laser Research Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. rheeck@dku.edu
- 3Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Jeju University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
Abstract
-
BACKGROUND:Many patients with symptom of recurrent episodic vertigo can neither be diagnosed nor treated. The purpose of this study is to review clinical features of a group of patients with recurrent episodic vertigo that is not defined to specific diagnosis of vertigo and to test the effectiveness of phenytoin sodium in the patients.
METHOD & MATERIAL:11 of 32 patients with recurrent vertigo not defined to specific diagnostic category of vertigo who visited dizziness center of a tertiary care university hospital from November 1995 to April 2004 were studied. The patient's charts were reviewed retrospectively. A thorough otolaryngologic and neurotologic evaluation was performed in every case to determine the specific cause of dizziness. Vestibular function test, hearing test, magnetic resonance imaging of brain, electroencephalogram, and 24 hour Holter EKG monitoring were performed in all cases. Consultations to psychiatrist and neurologist were obtained. All patients were treated with phenytoin sodium.
RESULT:The results of the vestibular function test, audiogram, MRI of brain, electroencephalogram, 24-hr holter monitoring were normal. Any definitive diagnosis could not be reached to this group. Vertigo was controlled by phenytoin sodium in all 11 cases.
CONCLUSION
We report a group of patients with recurrent episodic vertigo that is not defined to any specific diagnosis of vertigo. The vertigo symptom was controlled successfully by phenytoin sodium. This patients were diagnosed as benign episodic vertigo as a separate disease entity.
