Spontaneous Vertigo

자발현훈

Vertigo is an illusion of rotation, which results from an imbalance within the vestibular system. This review focuses on two common presentations of spontaneous vertigo: acute prolonged spontaneous vertigo and recurrent spontaneous vertigo. Common causes of acute prolonged spontaneous vertigo include vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, and brainstem or cerebellar stroke. The history and detailed neurological/neurotological examinations usually provide the key information for distinguishing between peripheral and central causes of vertigo. Brain MRI is indicated in any patient with acute vertigo accompanied by abnormal neurological signs, profound imbalance, severe headache, and central patterns of nystagmus. Recurrent spontaneous vertigo occurs when there is a sudden, temporary, and largely reversible impairment of resting neural activity of one labyrinth or its central connections, with subsequent recovery to normal or near-normal function. Meniere's disease, migrainous vertigo, and vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) are common causes. The duration of the vertigo attack is a key piece of information in recurrent spontaneous vertigo. Vertigo of vascular origin, such as VBI, typically lasts for several minutes, whereas recurrent vertigo due to peripheral inner-ear abnormalities lasts for hours. Screening neurotological evaluations, and blood tests for autoimmune and otosyphilis are useful in assessment of recurrent spontaneous vertigo that are likely to be peripheral in origin.