•  
  •  
 

Subject Area

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives To assess the vestibulo-ocular function in epileptic patients in the interictal period. Background Vertigo or dizziness are common symptoms with epileptic seizures. Patients and methods This is a cross-sectional study. The participants included in this study were divided into two groups. The control group consisted of 40 normal participants not complaining of any dizzy symptoms, with an age range of 20–40 years, and the study group (epileptic cases group) consisted of 40 epileptic patients, with age range of 20–40 years. All participants were subjected to vestibular assessment in the form of videonystagmography and video head impulse test (vHIT). Results There was no significant statistical difference between both groups regarding age (P = 0.17, Student t test) and sex distribution (P = 0.65, χ2 test). A total of 25 (62.5%) epileptic patients had vestibular symptoms. On videonystagmography, saccadic intrusions in pursuit test were reported in four (10%) epileptic patients, and seven (17.5%) epileptic patients had abnormal velocity in the saccade test; there was a significant statistical difference between both groups regarding the velocity of the saccade test (P = 0.02, Student t test). On vHIT, there was a significant statistical difference between both groups regarding lateral canal gain (P = 0.001, Student t test). A total of 29 (72.5%) patients in the study group had an abnormal gain in at least one canal of the six semicircular canals. Eight (20%) patients in the study group had low gain, and 21/40 (52.5%) patients had high gain. There was a significant statistical relationship between vestibular abnormalities and type of epilepsy, as well as EEG findings. Conclusion Vestibular system may be affected with epilepsy; high gain was the most frequently encountered abnormality in the vHIT.

Download

Share

COinS