Vertigo and autoimmunity

 European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 
Volume 267, Number 1 / January, 2010
Roberto Bovo1 , Andrea Ciorba1 and Alessandro Martini1(1) Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University Hospital of Ferrara, Corso Giovecca, 203, 44100 Ferrara, Italy

Abstract Autoimmune inner ear disease probably accounts for less than 1% of all cases of balance disorders, but its incidence is often overlooked due to the absence of a specific diagnostic test. Furthermore, in several systemic autoimmune diseases the vestibulo-cochlear system may be affected. Clinical features comprise generalized imbalance, ataxia, motion intolerance, episodic vertigo and positional vertigo. An autoimmune mechanism seems to be responsible for 6% of unilateral and 16% of bilateral forms of Ménière’s disease. Oscillopsia and disequilibrium secondary to a bilateral vestibular paresis are probably caused by an autoimmune response in 5% of cases.

Balance disorders of central origin may be due to other immuno-mediated disorders such as multiple sclerosis, brainstem encephalitis and vasculitidis. Aim of this paper is to assess the clinical features of autoimmune vertigo disorders through a systematic literature review.