Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo David Solomon, MD, PhD Address Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, 3 W. Gates Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA. Email:
[email protected] Current Treatment Options in Neurology 2000, 2:417–427 Current Science Inc. ISSN 1092-8480 Copyright © 2000 by Current Science Inc. Opinion statement Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo can be diagnosed with great certainty, and treated effectively at the bedside using one of the canalith repositioning procedures described in this paper. This treatment has been shown effective in properly controlled trials, has a rational basis, and has minimal risk [1]. Introduction Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most rior SCC [7]. Convincing evidence [8, Class I] in support common diagnosis made in many specialty clinics serv- of canalithiasis as a pathophysiologic explanation for ing patients with dizziness. This diagnosis is suggested by BPPV validates treatment with any procedure that can a history of brief (less than one minute) episodes of ver- effectively clear these dense particles from the posterior tigo that are provoked by rolling over in bed, lying down, semicircular canal. Canalithiasis can occur in any canal. sitting up from a supine position, bending over, or look- The posterior semicircular canal (PSC) was affected in the ing up. BPPV commonly is worse in the early morning majority of cases of BPPV (93% of cases) [9], with 85% (matutinal vertigo), and may be absent for weeks or being unilateral, and 8% affecting the PSC on both sides. months at a time before returning. Diagnosis rests on the The horizontal semicircular canal (HSC) was affected in observation of characteristic eye movements accompany- 5% of cases.