A Chair-based Abbreviated Repositioning Maneuver (ChARM) for fast treatment of posterior BPPV.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of a variation of the Epley maneuver, which we have titled "Chair-based Abbreviated Repositioning maneuver (ChARM)", in solving cases of benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV) of the posterior canal. ChARM addresses multiple issues of highly overloaded medical centers that delay its due and timely resolution. For example it does not necessitate an examination bed/table and requires only a backed chair, and less than 3 min to be performed. In combination with a recently published abbreviated diagnostic maneuver it can solve BPPV cases within few minutes of single medical visit. METHODS: Patients being diagnosed with posterior BPPV by means of an abbreviated diagnostic maneuver were recruited. Immediately after diagnosis, a single attempt of ChARM was conducted. The patient was followed for 48 h and at 1 month after these procedures to assess the persistence of symptomatology. RESULTS: 124 patients were treated with ChARM immediately after diagnosis during their very first medical visit. 92 patients (74.2%) solved their symptomatology completely after a single attempt of ChARM. The absence of symptoms persisted during the 30 days of follow-up. DISCUSSION: ChARM showed high success rates in solving posterior BPPV. The entire diagnostic-treatment procedure takes less than 5 min to perform and may allow direct treatment of patients, thereby avoiding unnecessary referrals or full vestibular testing. These abbreviated tools may be particularly useful in primary care settings or heavily overloaded otolaryngology or neurology departments.

An Abbreviated Diagnostic Maneuver for Posterior Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo.

INTRODUCTION: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) secondary to canalolithiasis of the posterior semicircular canal is perhaps the most frequent cause of vertigo and dizziness. One of its properties is a high response rate to canalith repositioning maneuvers. However, delays in the diagnosis and treatment of this entity can range from days to years, depending on the setting. Here, we present an abbreviated variation of the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, which can be used to diagnose this disease. It is similar to the standard maneuver but can be performed without an examination bed/table and requires only a backed chair (a difference that we feel is very important in settings where a clinical bed/table is not readily available). METHODS: A diagnostic assessment study was conducted in 163 patients who presented with vertigo or dizziness. RESULTS: The abbreviated test had fairly good sensitivity (80%) and high specificity (95%) for diagnosing posterior BPPV. DISCUSSION: This new diagnostic maneuver may serve as a screening procedure for quickly identifying this pathology. This will allow patients to be more directly treated, without requiring unnecessary referrals or full vestibular testing, and will be especially useful in primary care settings or heavily overloaded otolaryngology or neurology departments.

[Effects of pregnancy and changes in body weight on polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes according to the Rotterdam criteria]. / Clasificación de los fenotipos de síndrome de ovario poliquístico de acuerdo a los criterios de Rotterdam: ¿una condición estática o variable?

BACKGROUND: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is tightly associated with insulin resistance and obesity and characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic oligo-anovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology when fully expressed. The 2003 Rotterdam consensus proposed that two or three of these features were necessary to make the diagnosis, which generated four phenotypes. Several studies have suggested that these phenotypes could differ in their metabolic and endocrine characteristics and that they could vary in the same patient when analyzed throughout life. AIM: To determine if the initial classification of PCOS phenotypes is modified by different physiological conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a non-concurrent prospective analysis of 88 women with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria. The effect of physiological conditions such as changes in body weight, pregnancy and ageing more than five years on PCOS phenotype expression was analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty four percent of women became pregnant, 37% decreased and 24% increased their body weight during follow up. These conditions modified significantly the proportion of the different phenotypes (c2 = 32.2, p < 0.001). For instance, weight reduction was associated with a change to a better phenotype (p = 0.047) and even a normalization of the PCOS condition in 27% of the patients. On the other hand, an increase in body weight modifying body mass index in one unit, conferred an 8% probability of changing to a worst phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy and changes in body weight significantly modify PCOS phenotypes.

Clasificación de los fenotipos de síndrome de ovario poliquístico de acuerdo a los criterios de Rotterdam: ¿una condición estática o variable? / Effects of pregnancy and changes in body weight on polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes according to the Rotterdam criteria

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is tightly associated with insulin resistance and obesity and characterized by hyperandrogenism, chronic oligo-anovulation and polycystic ovarian morphology when fully expressed. The 2003 Rotterdam consensus proposed that two or three of these features were necessary to make the diagnosis, which generated four phenotypes. Several studies have suggested that these phenotypes could differ in their metabolic and endocrine characteristics and that they could vary in the same patient when analyzed throughout life. Aim: To determine if the initial classification of PCOS phenotypes is modified by different physiological conditions. Material and Methods: We performed a non-concurrent prospective analysis of 88 women with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria. The effect of physiological conditions such as changes in body weight, pregnancy and ageing more than five years on PCOS phenotype expression was analyzed. Results: Twenty four percent of women became pregnant, 37% decreased and 24% increased their body weight during follow up. These conditions modified significantly the proportion of the different phenotypes (c2 = 32.2, p < 0.001). For instance, weight reduction was associated with a change to a better phenotype (p = 0.047) and even a normalization of the PCOS condition in 27% of the patients. On the other hand, an increase in body weight modifying body mass index in one unit, conferred an 8% probability of changing to a worst phenotype. Conclusions: Pregnancy and changes in body weight significantly modify PCOS phenotypes.