Paper

Evidence for a Viral Neuropathy in Recurrent Vertigo
Richard R. Gacek

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Mass., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

ORL 2008;70:6-15 (DOI: 10.1159/000111042)

  Key Words

• Viral neuropathy
• Recurrent vertigo
• Ménière's disease
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

  Abstract

The concept that reactivation of latent neurotropic viruses (i.e. Herpesviridae group) in the vestibular ganglion is responsible for recurrent vestibulopathies is presented. A similar histopathologic degeneration of vestibular ganglion cells in vestibular neuronitis (VN), Ménière's disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is presented to support this concept. The clinical response (relief of vertigo) to the administration of antiviral medication in these syndromes provides practical evidence of a viral neuropathy in patients with recurrent vertigo. Relief of vertigo after this treatment was 90% in VN, Ménière's disease and VN. The relief of positional vertigo (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) was 66%.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Richard R. Gacek, MD
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue
Worcester, MA 01655 (USA)
Tel. +1 508 856 4161, Fax +1 508 856 6703, E-Mail GacekR@ummhc.org

  Article Information

Published online: February 1, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 12, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 36