The cardiac autonomic control system response to vestibular stimulation in subjects with BPPV compared with healthy controls

BACKGROUND: Vestibulo-sympathetic reflexes (VSR) demonstrate the autonomic interaction between the vestibular system and the cardiovascular system, however little is known about this interaction in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Although the main complaint of patients with BPPV is vertigo, additional symptoms such as nausea and sweating raise questions whether patients with BPPV have impaired VSR. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the cardiac autonomic control system (CACS) response to vestibular stimulation in subjects with BPPV compared with healthy controls. METHODS: This is a case-control study. Heart-rate variability (HRV) parameters were monitored in two groups (30-70 years old)- subjects with BPPV (N =18) and gender and age-matched healthy controls (N=18), at rest and during vestibular stimulation. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between groups in HRV parameters during rest. Both groups demonstrated an autonomic response to vestibular stimulation, yet no differences were found between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BPPV seem to have an intact cardiac response to vestibular stimulation. Over-activation of the Vestibular Semicircular Canals, as shown in BPPV, doesn't seem to alter the VSR in the cardiac autonomic control system.