[Value of visual nystagmography in diagnosis of the patients with vertebrobasilar transient ischemic vertigo]

Abstract

Objective: To study the changes of visual nystagmography(VNG) in patients with vertebrobasilar transient ischemic vertigo(VBTIV), explore their clinical value in diagnosis of the patients with VBTIV.

Method: Thirty-eight patients who complained vertigo and imbalance with VBTIV were selected as experimental group for testing of visual nystagmography (VNG). Twenty normal persons were chosen as control group. The result was analyzed.

Result: In the experimental group, there was one case that had spontaneous nystagmus and 29 cases (76.3%) with positional nystagmus. The positional nystagmus intension in those patients was (4.08+/-3.18) degrees/s, which was much higher as compared with the control group( P <0.01). The incidence was 39.5% for positioning test. One or more abnormal findings for visual-oculomotor system examination were shown in 28 patients (73.7%). These abnormal findings included saccade test in 26 cases (68.4%), eye tracking test type III in 13 cases and type IV in 3 cases in all 16 cases (42.1%), optokinetic nystagmus in 17 cases (44.7%). There was none with gaze nystagmus. Caloric test showed canal paresis in 19 cases (50.0%) and directional preponderance in 6 cases (15.9%). In Amount distributing of the general slow phase velocity there is a difference between test group and control group.

Conclusion: Not only vestibular centrum but also peripheral system was involved in patients with VBTIV. These results suggest that VNG be used as important diagnostic test for patients with VBTIV and might be helpful for the location diagnosis of VBTIV.