The International Tinnitus Journal

Effect of treatment with betahistine dihydrochloride on the postural stability in patients with different duration of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

The effect of betahistine dihydrochloride on the postural stability after repositioning Epley's maneuver (EM) in patients with BPPV was evaluated by static posturography in open and closed eyes conditions. Ninety patients were divided into four groups by duration (less and above 60 days of BPPV) and by treatment (with and without treatment with betahistine). The investigation was made one hour after the positive Dix-Hallpike test, 10 and 20 days after the treatment with EM. "Sway velocity" (SV) was calculated to evaluate postural stability. The results show dependence between efficacy of treatment with betahistine applied after EM and duration of BPPV. Betahistine normalized postural stability of patients with duration of BPPV less than 60 days after 10 days of treatment and had less effect on patients with duration of BPPV above 60 days. We assume that after removing the otoconia betahistine plays an important role for improving blood flow in the inner ear. The short presence of otoconia didn't damage sensory receptor, and restoring the normal function of motion-sensitive hairs cells and stabilizing the posture was observed.