Subjective visual vertical in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

The ocular tilt reaction leads to an alteration in the subjective visual ve rtical (SW). Nonsurgical peripheral vestibular dysfunction only rarely lead s to changes in the SW. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the effe cts on the SW in patients with benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV) post Hallpike and Semont maneuvers. Sixteen patients with posterior canal B PPV were assessed in the vestibular clinic in Winnipeg, Manitoba. These pat ients had assessment of their SW at baseline, post Hallpike and Semont mane uvers, and at follow-up 2 weeks later. These patients were also compared to a control group (n = 9). Ten of 16 patients showed a statistically signifi cant change in SW post Hallpike maneuver. An even larger number of patients , 14 of 16, showed a significant difference when compared to the control gr oup post Hallpike. These findings suggest that the inferior vestibular nerv e may to some degree influence the ocular tilt reaction.