Vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease

Abstract Background Older people develop gait and balance dysfunction that is associated with the gradual onset of cerebral white matter disease. White matter disease is easily detected by neuroimaging, whereas small vessels are not; hence, the term small vessel disease is frequently used to describ...

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Main Authors: Nagwa Mohamed Hazzaa, Aya Yassin Ahmed, Amany Mohamed Abo El-Khair, Noha Ali Shafik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2022-02-01
Series:The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-022-00223-z
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author Nagwa Mohamed Hazzaa
Aya Yassin Ahmed
Amany Mohamed Abo El-Khair
Noha Ali Shafik
author_facet Nagwa Mohamed Hazzaa
Aya Yassin Ahmed
Amany Mohamed Abo El-Khair
Noha Ali Shafik
author_sort Nagwa Mohamed Hazzaa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Older people develop gait and balance dysfunction that is associated with the gradual onset of cerebral white matter disease. White matter disease is easily detected by neuroimaging, whereas small vessels are not; hence, the term small vessel disease is frequently used to describe the parenchyma lesions rather than the underlying small vessel alterations. This study was done to investigate the relationship between the presence and/or absence of white matter disease identified on magnetic resonance imaging with the vestibular findings in elderly patients with dizziness. The current study was conducted on a total number of 30 elderly patients complaining of dizziness and/or instability. The inclusion criteria are patients above 55 years old and a history of vertigo and/or instability. All the study groups were subjected to full neuro-otological history, hearing assessment, video-nystagmography test (VNG), assessment of the risk of fall by functional gait assessment test (FGA), and radiological assessment: magnetic resonance stroke protocol. Results FGA total scores were significantly lower in patients with white matter disease (0.047) specifically PVWM score 3 (0.04) and DWM score 3 (0.19). Abnormal VNG test results were significantly higher in patients with atherosclerotic changes (0.04). The most common VNG finding abnormality was positional nystagmus. Conclusions Normal VNG findings in elderly dizzy patients should be complemented with FGA test to assess the risk of falls. The presence of risk factors for white matter disease (WMD) as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and migraine is an indication for requesting a further radiological assessment. The most frequent VNG abnormality in elderly patients with white matter disease is positional and positioning nystagmus, and a significant number of patients had positional nystagmus of the non-localizing criteria. FGA test scores are significantly related to the severity of white matter disease. The presence of atherosclerotic changes is significantly related to the presence of VNG test abnormality. It is important to ask the patient about the past history of migraine as it has an effect on VNG, FGA, and radiological findings.
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spelling doaj.art-15d8a47fff894f14a15d37ba0d06767b2024-04-16T15:22:09ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology1012-55742090-85392022-02-013811910.1186/s43163-022-00223-zVestibular findings in patients with white matter diseaseNagwa Mohamed Hazzaa0Aya Yassin Ahmed1Amany Mohamed Abo El-Khair2Noha Ali Shafik3ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams UniversityRadiology Department, Ain Shams UniversityENT Department, Ahmed Maher TeachingENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams UniversityAbstract Background Older people develop gait and balance dysfunction that is associated with the gradual onset of cerebral white matter disease. White matter disease is easily detected by neuroimaging, whereas small vessels are not; hence, the term small vessel disease is frequently used to describe the parenchyma lesions rather than the underlying small vessel alterations. This study was done to investigate the relationship between the presence and/or absence of white matter disease identified on magnetic resonance imaging with the vestibular findings in elderly patients with dizziness. The current study was conducted on a total number of 30 elderly patients complaining of dizziness and/or instability. The inclusion criteria are patients above 55 years old and a history of vertigo and/or instability. All the study groups were subjected to full neuro-otological history, hearing assessment, video-nystagmography test (VNG), assessment of the risk of fall by functional gait assessment test (FGA), and radiological assessment: magnetic resonance stroke protocol. Results FGA total scores were significantly lower in patients with white matter disease (0.047) specifically PVWM score 3 (0.04) and DWM score 3 (0.19). Abnormal VNG test results were significantly higher in patients with atherosclerotic changes (0.04). The most common VNG finding abnormality was positional nystagmus. Conclusions Normal VNG findings in elderly dizzy patients should be complemented with FGA test to assess the risk of falls. The presence of risk factors for white matter disease (WMD) as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia, and migraine is an indication for requesting a further radiological assessment. The most frequent VNG abnormality in elderly patients with white matter disease is positional and positioning nystagmus, and a significant number of patients had positional nystagmus of the non-localizing criteria. FGA test scores are significantly related to the severity of white matter disease. The presence of atherosclerotic changes is significantly related to the presence of VNG test abnormality. It is important to ask the patient about the past history of migraine as it has an effect on VNG, FGA, and radiological findings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-022-00223-zElderlyWhite matter diseaseSmall vessel diseaseDizzinessFGA
spellingShingle Nagwa Mohamed Hazzaa
Aya Yassin Ahmed
Amany Mohamed Abo El-Khair
Noha Ali Shafik
Vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease
The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology
Elderly
White matter disease
Small vessel disease
Dizziness
FGA
title Vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease
title_full Vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease
title_fullStr Vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease
title_full_unstemmed Vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease
title_short Vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease
title_sort vestibular findings in patients with white matter disease
topic Elderly
White matter disease
Small vessel disease
Dizziness
FGA
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-022-00223-z
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AT nohaalishafik vestibularfindingsinpatientswithwhitematterdisease