Dizziness and headache: a common association in children and adolescents.

Vertigo has long been recognized by the clinician as a frequent accompanying symptom of the adult migraine syndrome. This association has not been so readily identified in the pediatric population, and, as a consequence, children undergo unnecessary evaluations. We reviewed the charts of all children and adolescents referred for vestibular function testing to the Balance Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute between July 1994 and July 2000 (N = 31). Items analyzed included age, gender, symptoms that prompted the referral, test outcomes, family medical history, and final diagnosis. The most common justification for vestibular testing referral was the combination of dizziness and headache. Other less common reasons were "passing out" episodes, poor balance, and blurred vision. Normal test results were obtained from 70% of patients (n = 22). The most common abnormal test outcome was unilateral vestibular dysfunction (n = 5). Bilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction was present in three patients. One patient had central vestibular dysfunction. The final diagnoses were vestibular migraine (n = 11), benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood (n = 6), anxiety attacks (n = 3), Meniere's disease (n = 2), idiopathic sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss (n = 1), vertigo not otherwise specified (n = 1), familial vertigo/ataxia syndrome (n = 1), and malingering (n = 1); in five patients, no definitive diagnosis was established. The stereotypical patient with vestibular migraine was a teenage female with repeated episodes of headache and dizziness, a past history of carsickness, a family history of migraine, and a normal neurologic examination. Patients who fit this profile are likely to have migrainous vertigo. Consequently, a trial of prophylactic migraine medication should be considered for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Brain imaging and other tests are appropriate for patients whose symptoms deviate from this profile.

Recognition and management of horizontal canal benign positional vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the features of nystagmus in 24 patients with horizontal canal benign positional vertigo (BPV). Patients were treated with canalith repositioning maneuvers. Our goal was to develop a framework for distinguishing horizontal from posterior canal BPV and to further develop a mechanistic model explaining the horizontal canal variant of BPV. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a retrospective case review with prospective treatment outcome and follow-up. SETTING: The study was performed at a secondary and tertiary referral center for vertigo and dizziness. PATIENTS: The diagnosis of horizontal canal BPV was based on: 1) recurrent brief episodes of positional vertigo; 2) paroxysmal bursts of horizontal positional nystagmus; and 3) lack of any other identifiable central nervous system disorder to explain the nystagmus. Patient average age was 62 years, and average duration of symptoms was 12 weeks. INTERVENTIONS: We documented patients' symptoms and the characteristics of nystagmus. We reviewed the effectiveness of several similar canalith repositioning treatments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We observed and recorded factors that distinguish horizontal from posterior canal BPV. We monitored the direction of nystagmus, the type of maneuver that evoked the nystagmus, and the response to canalith repositioning. RESULTS: Symptom description alone was not sufficient to distinguish among canal types of BPV. Horizontal geotropic direction-changing positional nystagmus was observed in 19 of 24 patients. The other patients had ageotropic nystagmus. Both types were distinct from the nystagmus of posterior canal BPV. Response to canalith repositioning was 75% at 1 week of follow-up. Conversion of BPV from one canal to another occurred in some patients, but each canal could be treated individually. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with positional vertigo should undergo Dix-Hallpike positioning and supine lateral head turns to each side. Paroxysmal positional horizontal nystagmus that changes direction with changes in head position strongly suggests the diagnosis. Canalith repositioning for posterior canal BPV may fail in horizontal BPV. A 360 degrees barbecue rotation toward the presumably healthy ear done two to four times or until nystagmus disappears may result in more rapid resolution of symptoms.

Comparison of static and dynamic posturography in young and older normal people.

OBJECTIVE: To measure sway velocity during static and dynamic posturography in "normal" older people and to determine which tests best distinguish young from older subjects. SUBJECTS: A sample of 30 young (18-39 years) and 82 community-dwelling older (> 75 years) subjects who reported normal balance underwent a battery of balance tests. MEASUREMENTS: Velocity and frequency of sway, Tinetti gait and balance score, self-reported fear of falling and number of falls. RESULTS: Mean sway velocity and the ratio of high to low frequency sway velocity were significantly increased in older subjects compared with younger subjects for static and dynamic tests with eyes open and with eyes closed. Measures of anterior-posterior sway velocity during angular tilt of the platform with eyes closed best distinguished young from older subjects (almost three-fourths of older subjects had values greater than 2 standard deviations from the young normal mean). Older subjects who reported falls in the past year did not have a significantly higher sway velocity on static or dynamic tests compared with those who did not report falls. However, subjects who reported a fear of falling had significantly higher sway velocity on dynamic tests with eyes closed compared to those who did not report a fear of falling. CONCLUSIONS: On average, velocity of sway is higher in older subjects compared with younger subjects, and the difference between young and old is greater with dynamic posturography than with static posturography.

Isolated dizziness in vertebrobasilar insufficiency: Clinical features, angiography, and follow-up.

Dizziness is the most common manifestation of vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) and may occur as an isolated symptom in some patients. In order to determine if there is a characteristic pattern of vascular occlusion associated with this symptom, we reviewed the cerebral angiograms of seven patients (average age, 62 years) who presented with isolated episodes of dizziness. Six of seven had atherosclerotic occlusion of the vertebrobasilar junction between the takeoff of the posterior and anterior inferior cerebellar arteries. The other patient had basilar dolichoectasia without luminal narrowing. Our data suggest that isolated episodes of dizziness with VBI probably result from transient ischemia in territories supplied by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery. Anticoagulation stopped the attacks in six of seven patients who had recurrent symptoms despite aspirin therapy. Overall the prognosis was good.

Disequilibrium of unknown cause in older people.

Many older people complain of a sense of unsteadiness when standing or walking and many are fearful of falling. The cause of this disequilibrium is often difficult to determine even after thorough clinical evaluation. To better understand the pathogenesis of this symptom in a community-dwelling population, we studied 26 patients > 75 years old who complained of disequilibrium in whom no cause was evident after clinical evaluation. Each patient and each of 26 age-matched controls underwent a comprehensive evaluation that included a history and examination, a questionnaire, functional scales, a gait and balance scale, mini-mental state testing, audiometry, visual acuity, visual tracking, rotational vestibular testing, and quantitative posturography. Although none had Romberg's sign, patients tended to sway more and do poorer on semiquantitative gait and balance testing than did controls. Patients showed few differences from controls for most other measurements. However, 7 patients, designated Group V, had profoundly reduced vestibular function. In the remaining 19 patients (Group D), the average vestibular function was still significantly lower than controls. Sway velocity measured with posturography was increased in the patients compared with controls, particularly in Group V patients. Measures of vestibular function correlated with increased sway velocity both in Group D alone and among all study participants. Quantitative measurement of vestibular function should be considered in older people complaining of disequilibrium, particularly if the cause is not apparent after the initial evaluation.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in AIDS: a clinicopathologic study and review of the literature.

We reviewed the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of 15 patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Brain tissue from 10 autopsy and 6 biopsy specimens was studied using: in situ hybridization (ISH) for JC virus (JCV), immunohistochemistry for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) p24 antigen, and electron microscopy. Thirteen patients presented with focal neurologic deficits, while 2 presented with a rapid decline in mental status. PML was commonly the initial opportunistic infection of AIDS and produced hemiparesis, dementia, dysarthria, cerebellar abnormalities, and seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging was more sensitive than computed tomography in detecting lesions, and often showed multifocal areas of PML. CD4+ T-cell counts were uniformly low (mean 84/mm3), except in 1 patient who improved on 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT). PML involved the cerebral hemispheres, brain stem, cerebellum, and cervical spinal cord. The distribution of brain involvement was consistent with hematogenous dissemination of the virus. In 2 brain specimens, multiple HIV-type giant cells were present within the regions involved by PML. When co-infection by HIV and papovavirus was present, PML dominated the pathological picture. ISH for JCV showed virus in the nuclei of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Occasionally there was staining for JCV in the cytoplasm of glial cells and in the neuropil, the latter possibly a correlate of papovavirus spread between myelin sheaths, as seen by electron microscopy. ISH demonstrated more extensive foci of PML than did routine light microscopy.

Pericardial actinomycosis: case report and review.

Pericardial actinomycosis is rare and frequently goes unrecognized during life, a circumstance due in part to a paucity of clinical manifestations and to a low rate of positivity in cultures. We present a case report of pericardial actinomycosis and a review of 18 other cases reported in the literature since 1950. Possible risk factors include aspiration pneumonia, alcohol abuse, and periodontal disease. Actinomyces may cause purulent pericarditis that evolves into cardiac tamponade or constrictive pericarditis. Clues to the identity of the causative organism (e.g., draining sinus tracts and the presence of sulfur granules) are frequently absent, and cultures often fail to yield the organism. Histologic examination of material obtained by biopsy is often necessary to make the diagnosis. Most cases originate from a thoracopulmonary site of actinomycosis and spread directly to the pericardium. Widespread dissemination to extrathoracic organs is uncommon. Treatment consists of high-dose, long-term antimicrobial therapy as well as drainage of the pericardial space.