The effects of COVID-19 on the vestibular system
Introduction: The symptoms and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection vary greatly across the spectrum, from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and even death. Dizziness is a frequently reported symptom of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. However, the extent to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
10 March 2023
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| In: |
Frontiers in neurology
Year: 2023, Volume: 14, Pages: 1-8 |
| ISSN: | 1664-2295 |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fneur.2023.1134540 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1134540 Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1134540/full 
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| Author Notes: | Lena Zaubitzer, Sonja Ludwig, Michelle Berkemann, Beatrice Walter, Frederic Jungbauer, Valentin Held, Stefan C.A. Hegemann, Nicole Rotter and Angela Schell |
| Summary: | Introduction: The symptoms and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection vary greatly across the spectrum, from asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and even death. Dizziness is a frequently reported symptom of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. However, the extent to which this symptom results from the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the vestibular system remains unclear. Materials and methods: In the present single-center, prospective cohort study, patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent a vestibular assessment consisting of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory to assess dizziness during and after infection, a clinical examination, the video head impulse test, and the subjective visual vertical test. When the subjective visual vertical test result was abnormal, vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials were performed. Vestibular testing results were compared to pre-existing normative data of healthy controls. In addition, we performed a retrospective data analysis of patients admitted to hospital presenting with acute symptoms of dizziness who were also diagnosed with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: A total of 50 participants have been enrolled. During and after the SARS-CoV-2 infection, women were significantly more likely than men to suffer from dizziness. A significantly reduced semicircular canal or otolith function was not observed in either women or men. Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed in nine patients who presented to the emergency room with acute vestibular syndrome. Six of the patients exhibited acute unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy upon diagnosis. A different patient was diagnosed with vestibular migraine, and two individuals had a posterior inferior cerebellar artery infarct revealed by magnetic resonance imaging. Discussion/conclusion: Overall, a persisting structural affection of the vestibular system by SARS-CoV-2 seems to be unlikely and could not be confirmed by vHIT, SVV, and VEMPS in our study. It seems possible but unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 induces acute vestibulopathy. Nevertheless, dizziness is a common symptom in patients with COVID-19, which should be taken and worked through seriously. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 13.05.2024 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1664-2295 |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fneur.2023.1134540 |