Possible Participation of Irregularly Surfaced Carotid Plaques in the Genesis of Idiopathic Transient Vestibulopathy

Vertigo is defined as a rotational sensation associated with nystagmus and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and somatic instability such as gait disturbance1. In patients with vertigo that occurs suddenly and subsides rapidly (within 24 hour) the caloric test, a vestibular dysfunction test, is generally negative. Because its underlying disease is poorly understood, and does not satisfy the criteria of vestibular neuritis (VN), in which vertigo continues for more than 24 hour, the caloric test is positive, and steroid therapy is usually effective2-4, in our specialist vertigo center we arbitrarily called this type of vertigo “idiopathic transient vestibulopathy” (ITV). There are a number of diseases that cause vertigo (i.e., vestibular nerve disease, regional and systemic circulatory diseases that cause vestibular ischemia, cerebrocerebellar disease, and so on)5-7. The underlying diseases for other than ITV are well known, but that for ITV is poorly understood.