前庭诱发肌源性电位的研究进展和临床应用

前庭诱发肌源性电位（vestibular evoked myogenic potentials，VEMPs）是用高强度的声刺激在紧张的胸锁乳突肌上记录到的肌电位，近年来被认为是一个能客观、全面评价前庭功能的指标。如今越来越多的耳科医生开始关注这一能反映前庭-丘脑通路完整性的无创电生理检查。本文从VEMPs的起源、检测方法、波型意义及临床应用等方面进行介绍。     

突聋伴眩晕患者的前庭功能分析北大核心CSCD

目的探讨突发性聋伴眩晕患者前庭功能特点。方法对38例突发性聋伴眩晕患者(伴眩晕组,9~80岁)、36例突发性聋不伴眩晕患者(不伴眩晕组,15~69岁)和年龄相匹配的20例健康志愿者(正常对照组,20~76岁)分别进行纯音听阈、视频头脉冲试验和前庭诱发肌源性电位测试,比较三组结果。结果伴眩晕组、不伴眩晕组、正常对照组患者的前庭功能异常率分别为:92.11%(35/38)、44.44%(16/36)、35%(7/20),伴眩晕组异常率显著高于不伴眩晕组和正常对照组(均为P<0.001)。伴眩晕组患者的水平半规管、上半规管、后半规管、球囊、椭圆囊功能的异常率分别为34.21%(13/38)、23.68%(9/38)、55.26%(21/38)、65.79%(25/38)、60.53%(23/38);不伴眩晕组分别为19.44%(7/36)、13.89%(5/36)、25.00%(9/36)、27.78%(10/36)、22.22%(8/36),其中伴眩晕组的后半规管、球囊、椭圆囊功能的异常率明显高于不伴眩晕组(P=0.008、P=0.001、P=0.001);伴眩晕组三个半规管中后半规管功能异常率最高(55.26%),球囊和椭圆囊功能的异常率差异无统计学意义(P=0.634)。结论突聋伴眩晕患者较突聋不伴眩晕患者前庭功能损伤更严重,且以后半规管功能障碍多见。     

前庭诱发肌源性电位对前庭下神经炎的诊断价值

目的　探讨前庭诱发肌源性电位（VEMP）对前庭下神经炎的诊断价值。方法　回顾分析我科眩晕门诊18例前庭下神经炎的临床资料,尤其是VEMP检测结果。结果　18例患者中,15例表现为旋转性眩晕,3例为平衡障碍,所有患者纯音测听、冷热试验及眼性前庭诱发肌源性电位（oVEMP）正常而颈性前庭诱发肌源性电位（cVEMP）异常。其中14例cVEMP检查不能引出,4例振幅低下。3个月后复诊10例患者症状消失,复查cVEMP 9例恢复正常,1例振幅低下;半年复诊18例患者症状全部消失,复查cVEMP只有2例振幅低下,其余均恢复正常。结论　VEMP检查对前庭下神经炎的精准诊断及判断预后有重要临床价值,值得临床推广。     

全聋型突发性耳聋患者的预后与前庭症状及前庭功能关系的回顾性分析

目的 探讨全聋型突发性耳聋患者的预后与前庭症状及前庭功能的关系。 方法 回顾性分析52例单侧全聋型突发性耳聋患者的前庭症状,以及眼肌前庭诱发肌源性电位(oVEMP)、颈肌前庭诱发肌源性电位(cVEMP)、视频头脉冲试验(vHIT)和冷热试验结果,观察这些患者的听力结果与前庭症状及前庭功能的关系。 结果 在52例单侧全聋型突发性耳聋患者中,有前庭症状、前庭功能异常的全聋型患者与无前庭症状者、功能正常者相比疗效差异有统计学意义。oVEMP、cVEMP、vHIT和冷热试验四项结果异常的全聋型患者显示出更低的治疗总有效率,oVEMP、cVEMP、vHIT和冷热试验正常的突发性耳聋患者有更高的听力恢复数值。 结论 有前庭症状、前庭功能异常的全聋型突发性耳聋患者疗效较差,oVEMP、cVEMP、vHIT和冷热试验正常的全聋型突发性耳聋患者有更好的听力恢复。前庭功能异常提示突发性聋患者的内耳病变范围较大、程度较重。     

前庭诱发的肌源性电位临床应用

前庭诱发的肌源性电位（Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials，VEMP）可用于评价球囊功能及其对称性。本文总结VEMP在神经耳科学中的应用情况。首先建立VEMP的临床适用的检查方法，这些方法包括：刺激声的选择、刺激强度及给声方式，建立VEMP在振幅、阈值、潜伏期和耳间潜伏期的正常值。临床上常用于：梅尼埃病和迟发性膜迷路积水、前庭神经炎、听神经瘤、前半规管裂综合征和听神经病的诊断定位。VEMP的振幅变化较大．潜伏期的变化较大，而阈值较稳定。梅尼埃病和迟发性膜迷路积水、前庭神经炎、听神经瘤可以出现振幅的异常或引不出；梅尼埃病、迟发性膜迷路积水和听神经瘤可见振幅和潜伏期异常。听神经瘤还可见耳间潜伏期延长。听神经病主要表现为振幅的异常，振幅减低或引不出。VEMP是一种稳定的肌源性电位，双侧声刺激较为适宜。VEMP的阈值检查主要用于压力或声音敏感性眩晕；耳间潜伏期的异常主要见于桥一小脑角占位病变：振幅和潜伏期的异常一般没有特异性．可见于累及前庭下神经的病变。     

小型猪肌源性诱发前庭电位的检测

目的探索小型猪肌源性诱发前庭电位(Vestibular-evoked myogenic potential,VEMP)的最佳检测方法。方法选取正常成年的雌性小型巴马香猪,以3%戊巴比妥钠+速眠新Ⅱ进行麻醉之后,用自制装置进行固定,1000Hz强短声诱发颈部伸肌肌源性电位和咬肌肌源性电位,并记录其波形;结果颈部伸肌诱发肌源性电位,第一个正向波P的潜伏期7.65±0.64ms,振幅1.66±0.34uv,80dBSPL的引出率为75%;咬肌诱发肌源性电位,第一个正向波P的潜伏期7.60±0.78ms,振幅1.31±0.28uv,80dBSPL的引出率为66%。结论小型猪颈部伸肌和咬肌在强声下诱发的肌源性电位潜伏期和阈值均一致;颈部伸肌部位所记录到的VEMF波幅稍高于咬肌部位记录到波幅;但相比之下,咬肌位置表浅,便于定位,肌肉组织发达,肌紧张性强,更易于肌源性诱发电位的记录。     

突发性聋伴眩晕患者颈性前庭诱发肌源性电位特点

目的　记录伴眩晕的突发性聋患者颈性前庭诱发肌源性电位（cervical VEMP,cVEMP）的参数特点,并探讨其临床价值。方法　将21例伴眩晕的突发性聋患者作为观察对象,设为突发性聋伴眩晕组,16例不伴有眩晕的突发性聋患者设为突发性聋组,22名健康受试者作为正常组,分析对比各组cVEMP潜伏期、振幅比和不对称率。结果 突发性聋伴眩晕组不对称率（26.52±11.83）%明显高于突发性聋组（14.50±8.31）%和正常组（14.41±9.80）%,差异有统计学意义（F =9.633和10.008,P 均＜0.05）。cVEMP的P1、N1潜伏期及振幅比在突发性聋伴眩晕组、突发性聋组和正常组3个组组间比较,差异均无统计学意义。结论　伴眩晕的突发性聋患者其球囊功能易伴有损伤,cVEMP可用于辅助判断突发性聋伴眩晕患者内耳的病变范围及损伤程度。     

突聋伴眩晕患者前庭诱发肌源性电位的临床研究

目的通过观察突发性聋伴眩晕患者前庭诱发肌源性电位的引出率及各参数,探讨前庭诱发肌源性电位对突聋伴眩晕患者内耳损伤情况的诊断及预后评估。方法收集50例单耳突聋伴眩晕的患者,50例单耳突聋不伴眩晕患者及60例正常听力人作为对照组,分析对比o VEMP及c VEMP的引出率和各参数变化。结果引出率:病例组患耳、对侧耳、突聋不伴眩晕组及正常对照组o VEMP引出率分别为24%、42%、48%、100%,c VEMP引出率分别为:56%、74%、64%、100%,病例组患耳和对侧耳相比,o VEMP及c VEMP引出率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),病例组患耳及对侧耳分别和正常对照组比较,o VEMP及c VEMP引出率均明显降低(P<0.05),病例组患耳o VEMP引出率明显低于突聋不伴眩晕组(P<0.05)。o VEMP:病例组患耳、对侧耳、突聋不伴眩晕组及正常对照组的各参数(N1潜伏期、P1潜伏期、P1-N1振幅)两两比较,组间不对称比(AR)比较,差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。c VEMP:病例组患耳、对侧耳、突聋不伴眩晕组及正常对照组的各参数比较,患耳及对侧耳P1-N1振幅比突聋不伴眩晕组及正常对照组均明显降低(P<0.05),病例组AR比正常对照组明显增高(P<0.05),o VEMP及c VEMP结果与听力损失分型、听力损失程度分级无明显相关性(P>0.05),但与疗效分级明显相关(P<0.05)。结论突聋伴眩晕患者存在同侧及对侧的椭圆囊(前庭上神经)和球囊(前庭下神经)传导功能障碍,前庭诱发肌源性电位为突聋伴眩晕患者耳石器及前庭神经功能评估提供客观依据。     

突发性耳聋患者眼肌前庭诱发肌源性电位特点

目的观察突发性耳聋患者眼肌前庭诱发肌源性电位(oVEMP)的引出率和各参数指标,并探讨其临床诊断价值。方法选取2014年10月到2015年3月诊断为单侧突发性耳聋的患者36例,进行气导短纯音诱发的眼肌前庭诱发肌源性电位检测,分析对比oVEMP的引出率和各参数指标。分别以突聋对侧耳和25名年龄、性别匹配的健康人25例(50耳)为对照,分析前庭功能受损状况。结果突聋组患耳oVEMP引出率为44.4%(16/36),突聋组对侧健耳oVEMP引出率为52.7%(19/36);对照组oVEMP引出率为100%(50/50)。组间对比显示突聋组患耳和对侧耳与对照组oVEMP引出率比较,差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.05),突聋组患耳和对侧耳oVEMP引出率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);突聋组患耳、对侧耳、对照组正常耳组间比较,oVEMP的N1潜伏期、P1潜伏期、波间期、振幅等参数差异均无统计学意义(P值均>0.05)。结论突聋患者在耳蜗受损的同时可以伴有椭圆囊及前庭上神经传导功能障碍,这种功能障碍可以通过oVEMP检测进行客观评估。     

前庭诱发肌源性电位频率调制的临床价值研究

前庭诱发肌源性电位(VEMP)作为评价椭圆囊和球囊功能及相应的神经传导通路的电生理检查技术,随着其不断完善和规范,此检查已广泛应用于各种疾病的临床诊断,本文主要就VEMP检查中的频率调制的临床价值进行讨论。     

Should air travel be avoided shortly after an idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss?

Abstract

Introduction: The effect of air travel on the recovery rate after idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) has not been established. The advice to avoid flights is essentially based upon conjecture.

Objectives: To analyze the recovery rate of patients who traveled by air shortly after they were treated for ISSNHL.

Materials and methods: The hospital records of 115 newly diagnosed adult patients with unilateral ISSNHL were retrospectively collected. Included were patients who traveled by air within 90?days since the ISSNHL occurrence. The treatment protocol included oral prednisone and intratympanic dexamethasone injection when indicated. Audiograms performed upon presentation and 90?days later were compared.

Results: Twelve patients were included (median age 45.5?years). The median treatment delay was 3?days. The average time from the ISSNHL to air-travel was 37?days, and the average air-travel distance was 13,362?km. The degree of HL was moderate, moderately severe, and severe (4 patients each). Seven patients (58%) underwent full recovery. No patients experienced further deterioration of their audiometric results after air-travel.

Conclusions: This study does not support the avoidance of air-travel after ISSNHL.

Significance: This study is the first to investigate the effect of air-travel on ISSNHL recovery rates, a clinical question that rises commonly.     

Hyperbaric oxygen and steroid therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

In our controlled retrospective analysis of medical records in tertiary care academic medical center, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy combined with steroid administration for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) in comparison with that of steroid administration alone. Our subjects were 130 consecutive inpatients with ISSNHL (hearing levels ≥40 dB; time from the onset of hearing loss to the start of treatment ≤30 days). Sixty-seven patients underwent HBO plus steroid therapy (HBO group), and 63 were given steroids alone (steroid group). Hearing recovery was evaluated by grade assessment and by the improvement in hearing compared to that in the unaffected contralateral ear. The cure rate and hearing improvement rate were not statistically different between the two groups; however, the recovery rate was significantly higher in the HBO group than in the steroid group (59.7% vs. 39.7%; P < 0.05). With regard to patients with initial hearing levels of ≥80 dB, the hearing improvement rate was significantly higher in the HBO group than in the steroid group (51.1 ± 7.0% vs. 27.1 ± 7.8%; P < 0.05), while in patients whose initial hearing levels were <80 dB, hearing outcomes were not statistically different between the two groups. In both the HBO and steroid groups, patients with initial hearing levels of <80 dB showed a better hearing improvement rate than those with initial hearing levels of ≥80 dB. In conclusion HBO therapy shows a significant additional effect in combination with steroid therapy for ISSNHL, particularly in patients with severe hearing loss.     

Local hypothermia in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Objective

The additive effects of local hypothermia and restricted activity in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) were investigated by case-matched study as a multicenter (13 hospitals) pilot trial.

Patients and methods

In a preliminary experiment, we evaluated the effects of cooled water pillow (15 °C). Cooling the neck and mastoid with the pillow decreased the tympanic membrane temperature for 1.4 °C in 2 h without causing uncomfortable sensation or frostbite. In this study, 86 patients with ISSHL were enrolled in the hypothermic group, which received hypothermic treatment with restricted activity in addition to medication, and 86 ISSHL patients constituted the control group, which received the same medication but without cooling and rest. Control patients were selected retrospectively from case records by matching the experimental patients with respect to age, gender, days until the start of treatment, hearing loss, shape of the audiogram, and accompanying vertigo. The patients in the hypothermic group were admitted and treated with a cooled water pillow for 48 h, in addition to conventional drug treatment (e.g., 60 mg of prednisone) for 7 days. The water pillow was cooled to 15 °C and was changed 4–5 times per day. The patients used the water pillow for the first 48 h after admission, with restricted activity. The control patients received only the medications.

Results

Hearing results were evaluated using criteria proposed by the Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Research Group of the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. The recovery rates were judged 6 months after onset. The recovery rate in the hypothermic group was significantly (p < 0.05) better than that in the control group. When the comparison was limited to younger patients, the use of the cooled water pillow was effective in facilitating the recovery of hearing.

Conclusions

Hearing restoration in ISSHL may be improved by adding mild hypothermia and restricted activity to the conventional treatment.     

双耳突聋与单耳突聋的临床比较

目的:对比双耳突发性聋与单耳突发性聋的临床特点及治疗效果的异同。方法:回顾性分析480例突发性聋患者,将其分为单耳组(440例)和双耳组(40例),对2组的临床特点及疗效进行比较。结果:与单耳突发性聋比较,双耳突发性聋更多见于糖尿病、高脂血症患者,并且年龄越大,发生双耳突发性聋的可能性越大。在双耳组中28耳治疗有效,有效率为35%;单耳组中228耳治疗有效,有效率为56.4%,两者差异有统计学意义。结论:双耳突发性聋和单耳突发性聋可能具有不同的病理生理机制和预后,从临床上认识两者间的异同,有助于治疗方案的制定和预后的评估。     

Saccular damage in patients with high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss

Subjects with high frequency sensorineural hearing loss (HF-SNHL) without retrocochlear pathology are those group which certainly encountered inner ear damaging factors. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of cochlear damaging factors on the sacculocollic pathway. Fifty patients (76 ears) with varying degrees of HF-SNHL but without clinical manifestations of vestibular pathology tested for vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP). The results were compared with those of 18-healthy referents (32 ears) examined in the same way. Subjects with HF-SNHL greater than 40 dB HL showed significantly more saccular deterioration, estimated as negative VEMP responses than did the referents. This suggests subclinical disturbances of the vestibular system especially of the saccule in these patients. The underlying mechanism may be simultaneous damage to both the cochlea and saccule by the same factors.     

Frequency-specific efficacy of intratympanic steroid on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Background: Hearing recovery would be different in each sound frequency in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).

Aims/objectives: To analyze frequency-specific efficacy of intratympanic steroid on ISSNHL.

Materials and methods: Of a total of 381 patients with ISSNHL (hearing threshold ≥40?dB; ≤30?days until treatment), 174 patients (174 ears) received systemic steroid plus hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO group), and 207 patients (208 ears) received systemic plus intratympanic steroid (IT group). Hearing thresholds at 125–8000?Hz were measured at every octave before and after treatment.

Results: % of patients with hearing gains ≥10?dB in the IT group was significantly higher for 500?Hz and the average of 5 mid-frequencies, tended to be higher for 1000?Hz, but was significantly lower for 8000?Hz, compared to the HBO group. Multiple regression analysis showed that hearing recovery was negatively correlated with patients’ age for 125/2000/4000/8000?Hz and with days from onset to treatment for all frequencies, and also revealed better hearing recovery at 500/1000?Hz in the IT group than in the HBO group.

Conclusions: Intratympanic steroid is more effective than hyperbaric oxygen to yield better hearing outcomes at mid-frequencies and would be advantageous to restore sound/speech perception.

Significance: Superiority of intratympanic steroid over hyperbaric oxygen for treating ISSNHL was verified.     

Intratympanic methylprednisolone administration promotes the recovery of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a retrospective case-control study

Abstract

Background: Efficacy of current treatment methods in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is still unsatisfactory.

Objective: This study aimed to discover in differences in effect between steroid applications responsible for promoting the prognosis in ISSNHL.

Materials and methods: A study was conducted to diagnose ISSNHL patients in our hospital from January 2014 to September 2016. All patients accepted treatments including intravenous injection (intravenous dexamethasone, [IV DXM]), intratympanic injection (intratympanic methylprednisolone [IT MP], intratympanic dexamethasone [IT DXM]) or combined injections with steroids (IV?+?IT DXM). Patients were divided into groups according to treatment outcomes and clinical characteristics of each group were compared for univariate comparison. Logistic regression was utilized to verify screening factors from univariate comparison for exclude biases.

Results: There were 313 patients with ISSNHL enrolled in the study. Logistic regression verified that vertigo (p?=?.023), severity of hearing loss (p=.969), pattern of hearing loss (p?=?.03), and the treatment method (p?<?.001) were statistically related to the patients’ prognosis based on the condition all biases had been excluded as possible. IT MP showed a better prognosis of hearing improvement compared to treatment with IT DXM (OR?=?0.5), IV DXM (OR =0.226), and IV DXM?+?IV DXM (OR?=?0.320).

Conclusions and significance: IT MP treatment could be utilized as initial treatment in ISSNHL and might promote outcomes.     

Characteristics and prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in aged people: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Few studies focused on the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) of aged people.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics, treatment, and prognostic factors of ISSHL in aged people.

Material and methods: A total of 278 patients diagnosed of ISSHL in aged people from 2014 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Univariates were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic analysis.

Results: Among the 13 univariates, the patients’ age was younger in the overall recovery group ORG (p?=?.018), while onset days was shorter in ORG (p?=?.000). The percentage of DM and HTN comorbidities were higher in ORG (p?=?.026 and .038). Meanwhile differences were significant in audiogram configurations (p?=?.037), the degree of hearing loss (p?=?.033), and types of lipid treatment (p?=?.020). Then these seven independent risk factors were included in the multivariate analysis, final results indicated that hypertension (p?=?.028), lipid control groups (p?=?.009), age (p?=?.000), and onset days (p?=?.001) were related to the treatment outcome of ISSHL.

Conclusions: The prognosis of ISSHL in aged patients was closely related to age, the onset days of treatment, and good control of complications such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, so vascular factors were considered as the main causes of morbidity.