Research in Vestibular Science

Case Report

Delayed Audio-Vestibular Symptoms in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: Han-Sol Choi, Jae-Myung Kim, Hong Chan Kim, Hyong-Ho Cho, Seung-Han Lee; Res Vestib Sci. 2020;19(1):29-33. Published online March 15, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.21790/rvs.2020.19.1.29

Abstract PDF: Intracranial hypotension (IH) is a neurological disorder characterized by orthostatic headache due to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume depletion. IH usually results from CSF leak caused by either spontaneous or traumatic dural injury and may also present nausea, neck stiffness, tinnitus or dizziness. We experienced a 52-year-old woman presenting with acute spontaneous vertigo, tinnitus and hearing impairment on both ears with right side predominancy which mimicked Meniere’s disease. Video-oculography revealed spontaneous left-beating nystagmus which was modulated by position change. There was binaural low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in pure tone audiometry. Other neuro-otologic evaluations including caloric test, vestibular evoked myogenic potential, video head impulse tests were unremarkable. Of interest, she had been treated of orthostatic headache due to spontaneous IH 10 days before admission. Taken together the clinical and laboratory findings, audio-vestibular symptoms of the patient were thought to be related with insufficient treatment of IH. After massive hydration and bed rest, her symptoms were markedly improved and SNHL was also disappeared in the follow-up pure tone audiometry. IH should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dizzy patient with tinnitus, hearing impairment even the typical orthostatic headache is not accompanied.

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