SARS-CoV2 and the vestibular System

Introduction 

Symptoms and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection vary greatly. Dizziness is a frequently reported symptom of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. However, the extent to which this symptom is a result of the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the vestibular system remains unclear.

Material & methods 

In the present single-centre study, 50 patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent a vestibular assessment consisting of dizziness handicap inventory to assess dizziness during and after infection, clinical examination, video head impulse test and subjective visual vertical test (SVV). When SVV was abnormal, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were performed. In addition, a retrospective data analysis of patients admitted to hospital presenting with acute symptoms of dizziness who were also diagnosed with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed.

Results 

During and after the SARS-CoV-2 infection, women were significantly more likely to suffer from dizziness than men. A significantly reduced semicircular canal or otolith function was not observed in either women or men. Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed in three patients who presented to with acute vestibular syndrome. One of the patients exhibited acute peripheral unilateral vestibulopathy upon diagnosis. A different patient was diagnosed with vestibular migraine and another with a posterior inferior cerebellar artery infarct.

Conclusion 

Past SARS-CoV-2 infection does not usually lead to a hypofunction of the vestibular organs. However, individual patients with acute infection have been reported to show symptoms of acute vestibular syndrome. Although the underlying pathomechanism has not yet been elucidated, SARS-CoV-2-induced neuropathy or ischemia should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022