Treating vertigo with vestibular rehabilitation: results in 155 patients.

Balance is fundamental to our daily activities and the vestibular system, together with vision and proprioceptive functions, are the main structures involved in this process. Dizziness is the main clinical manifestation of malfunction of these systems. The mechanisms of vestibular compensation are one of the most studied aspects since they play an important role in the patient's everyday activities. In this retrospective description of a series of cases the authors present their results in 155 patients that underwent a program of vestibular rehabilitation (VR). The program, first described by Cawthorne and Coosey, is based on mechanisms of potentiation of the cervico-ocular reflex and substitution of the lost vestibular cues for visual and somatosensory cues. The results were satisfactory (remission or partial cure) in 75.5% of the patients, with an average treatment time of up to 2 months and 5 or fewer sessions performed in most of the cases. The results were somewhat inferior in those cases in which a central vestibular lesion or more than one etiologic factor was present. The results of a subgroup of elderly patients (age > 65 years) were similar to those of the total number of studied subjects. Vestibular rehabilitation, associated to the specific etiological treatment, appears to be a very useful tool in the management of patients suffering from dizziness of all ages, although different clinical responses to the therapy may vary according to the presence of a central or a peripheral vestibular lesion or multiple etiological factors.

Nasal polyposis and allergy: is there a correlation?

Nasal polyposis (NP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa. The etiology and formation of NP are still not elucidated and have been debated for many years. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of nasal allergy in the development of NP. The following aspects were analyzed: age, sex, and patient's symptoms; correlation between asthma, aspirin intolerance, and NP; serum immunoglobulin levels and eosinophilia; and concentration of interleukins 1beta, 3, and 4 in NP. Thirty-nine patients with NP were selected, 13 of them allergic and 26 non-allergic. A control group of 11 individuals was also studied. The concentrations of interleukins 1beta, 3, and 4 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was a higher incidence of NP after the fourth decade of life and among men. We found no correlation of asthma or aspirin intolerance with the presence or absence of allergy. Serum levels of IgE and eosinophils were significantly higher in patients with allergy and NP and the concentrations of interleukins 3 and 4 were positively correlated with NP. There was no difference in interleukin 3 and 4 concentration between the non-allergic group with NP and the control group, suggesting that these interleukins do not play an important role in the etiology and formation of NP. These results suggest that the immunologic pathway involved in the etiology of NP is differentfrom the one correlated with allergy (IgE-mediated).

Dizziness predicts initial worsening in panic disorder: an otoneurological investigation.

Dizziness is a frequent complaint during the initial worsening of panic patients treated with clomipramine. In order to investigate the relationship between dizziness and initial worsening mechanisms, otoneurological tests were administered to 32 consecutive patients with panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, before treatment, 36 h after the first dose of 25 mg clomipramine and after treatment and full remission of the panic and agoraphobic symptoms. A pretreatment complaint of 'dizziness during panic attacks' but not the occurrence of otoneurological abnormalities, predicted the occurrence of clinical worsening at the start of treatment. A specific pattern of otoneurological abnormalities was not found, but only three patients had normal results in all three sessions. The inconsistent test results suggest that functional vestibular pathology is frequently associated with panic disorder.

["Osteogenesis imperfecta": some differential particularities with otospongiosis]. / "Osteogenesis imperfecta": quelques particularités différentielles avec l'otospongiose.

The authors present 3 cases of osteogenesis imperfecta, with auditory repercussions similar to otospongiosis. A review of the literature of the pathology highlights its relationship with the temporal bone. The findings and treatment of 3 cases are discussed. The author conclude that this pathology may suggest otospongiosis with a progressive neuro-sensorial loss of hearing. The treatment of choice is the use of a hearing aid, rather than surgery.

Efeito do droperidol sobre o nistagmo induzido por prova calorica. / Effects of droperidol on nystagmus induced by caloric test

Foram estudados 13 cobaios adultos, submetidos a eletronistagmografia, para observacao do nistagmo, apos administracao de droperidol (0,24 mg. kg1 i.p.). Verificou-se diminuicao significativa do nistagmo, interpretada como resultante da acao depressiva, do droperidol, no tronco cerebral e reflexo vestibulo-ocular