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Dissociation of caloric and head impulse tests: a marker of Meniere's disease

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Abstract

A retrospective analysis of the horizontal video head impulse test (vHIT) results and caloric testing results was undertaken on 644 patients who attended a neuro-otology outpatient facility. Presenting symptoms included spontaneous vertigo, positional vertigo, imbalance or chronic subjective dizziness. For 570 patients, the results of vHIT and caloric testing were concordant. Both tests were normal in 500 subjects with an average vHIT gain = 0.92 ± 0.09 (L); 0.98 ± 0.10 (R) and canal paresis (CP) = 7.88 ± 6.12; (range 0–28%). 54 had concordant asymmetries, average ipsilesional vHIT gain = 0.56 ± 0.15, average contralesional vHIT gain = 0.88 ± 0.12. CP = 68.02 ± 24.38 (range 31–100%). 16 subjects had bilateral vestibular hypofunction with average vHIT gains of 0.42 ± 0.20 (L); 0.41 ± 0.19 (R), peak slow phase velocity (SPV) on warm caloric testing = 2.68 ± 2.08, range 0–6°/s (L) and 3.75 ± 3.43 range, 0–10°/s (R). 36 patients showed a dissociation of results between the two tests. In these subjects, the vHIT gain was normal (0.93 ± 0.06 left and 0.98 ± 0.07 right) and the caloric test showed a CP > 30% (48 ± 13.8%). Their final diagnoses included clinically definite Meniere’s disease (MD) (n = 27), vestibular schwannoma (VS) (n = 2) vestibular migraine (VM) (n = 1), vestibular neuritis (VN) (n = 5) and unknown (n = 1). No patient with abnormal HSCC gain on vHIT had a normal caloric result. The caloric test complements the vHIT in the assessment of vestibular disorders and is most useful in suspected endolymphatic hydrops. Asymmetric caloric function in the presence of normal horizontal head impulse tests is most commonly associated with Meniere’s disease and may function as a diagnostic marker.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the support provided by NH&MRC of Australia and the Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blacktown Neurology Clinic, Blacktown, NSW, 2148, Australia

    I. P. Hannigan & Shaun R. D. Watson

  2. Central Clinical School, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia

    I. P. Hannigan & M. S. Welgampola

  3. Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 8 East 1, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia

    M. S. Welgampola

  4. Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, 2013, Australia

    Shaun R. D. Watson

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  1. I. P. Hannigan
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Correspondence to Shaun R. D. Watson.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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This study was conducted with a waiver of consent from the Research, Ethics and Governance office at Royal Prince Alfred hospital, Sydney. Patients were originally tested using standard of care balance function test protocols as befits their clinical presentation.

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Hannigan, I.P., Welgampola, M.S. & Watson, S.R.D. Dissociation of caloric and head impulse tests: a marker of Meniere's disease. J Neurol 268, 431–439 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-019-09431-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-019-09431-9

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