Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness in Episodic Vestibular Disorders

Abstract

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular Migraine (VM), and Meniere Disease (MD) are among the most common episodic vestibulopathies. Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional vestibular disorder that can arise in patients suffering from one or more of these conditions. We analyzed the role of these vestibular disorders as single or multiple associated comorbidities and as a precipitating condition for PPPD. A total of 376 patients suffering from dizziness with a known history of single or multiple vestibular disorders were preliminarily evaluated. We conducted a careful anamnesis to determine whether the reported dizziness could meet the diagnostic criteria for PPPD. PPPD was diagnosed in 24 cases; its incidence in patients with history of a single comorbidity or multiple vestibular comorbidities was 3.9% and 22.4%, respectively. BPPV, VM, and MD were identified as a precipitating condition in 2.34%, 16.45%, and 3.92%, respectively. BPPV constituted a precipitating condition mainly at the first episode. We observed that the presence of multiple vestibular comorbidities (BPPV, VM, and MD) in patients’ clinical history increased the risk of PPPD. VM plays a significant role in representing a precipitating condition for PPPD, both when present individually or in association with the other vestibular disorders.