Feasibility of the simultaneous ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in unilateral vestibular hypofunction.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the results of combined and individual ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) and cervical VEMP (cVEMP) tests in healthy subjects and patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction to confirm the effectiveness of the combined oVEMP and cVEMP test.

METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers and 12 patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction underwent individual oVEMP and cVEMP tests in a random order, and combined oVEMP and cVEMP test on another day.

RESULTS: Twenty healthy subjects had 100% response rates for oVEMPs and cVEMPs in both individual and combined stimulation modes. Significant positive correlations exist between individual and combined oVEMPs/cVEMPs in terms of latencies and amplitudes. In 12 patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction, differences in abnormal percentages of oVEMPs or cVEMPs were non-significant. Additionally, the characteristic parameters of oVEMP/cVEMP among ears of healthy subjects, good and pathological ears of patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction did not differ significantly, regardless of whether the individual or combined mode was used.

CONCLUSIONS: The combined oVEMP and cVEMP test generates similar information to that obtained by individual mode, regardless of whether subjects are healthy or have unilateral vestibular hypofunction.

SIGNIFICANCE: Simultaneous oVEMP and cVEMP tests may be a convenient screening tool for assessing crossed vestibulo-ocular reflex and ipsilateral sacculo-collic reflex, which definitely shortens the diagnostic test time. Thus, it may favor the large diffusion of these techniques.