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Relevance of plasma D-dimer measurement in patients with acute peripheral vertigo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Bruno Fattori ,
Francesco Ursino ,
Renza Cristofani ,
Fabio Galetta  and
Andrea Nacci
Bruno Fattori
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosciences, ENT Unit, University of Pisa, Italy.
Francesco Ursino
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosciences, ENT Unit, University of Pisa, Italy.
Renza Cristofani
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Pathology, Medical Biotechnology, Infective Diseases and Epidemiology, University of Pisa, Italy.
Fabio Galetta
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
Andrea Nacci
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosciences, ENT Unit, University of Pisa, Italy.
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Abstract

The aetiopathogenesis of acute unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction (APV), also known as vestibular neuritis, is still debated: the principal cause is viral infection with vascular factors second in importance.

Plasmatic D-dimer, considered a plasmatic index of hypercoagulation, was measured in a group of 45 APV patients and in a group of 25 patients suffering from Ménière’s disease. Measurements were taken both during the acute stage and after a four to six week period of pharmacological washout. The mean D-dimer levels were significantly higher than those measured in the controls both during the acute phase (301 SD161 vs 202 SD113 ng/mL) and after follow up (304 SD211 vs 192 SD111 ng/mL) (p = 0.008). Moreover, during the acute stage 23 of the APV patients (51.1 per cent) had plasmatic D-dimer levels above the upper normal limit (i.e.: <300 ng/mL), compared to four of those with Ménière’s disease (16 per cent).

Our results lead us to postulate an involvement of the haemostatic system in APV.

Keywords

Vestibular NeuronitisMénière’s DiseaseBlood Coagulation
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 117 , Issue 6 , June 2003 , pp. 467 - 472
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2003

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