Vascular vertigo and dizziness: managing and treating outpatients

Abstract

Objective: Due the lack of data on the treatment of Vascular Vertigo and Dizziness, this study aimed to report how we managed and treated those outpatients according to the recently introduced American Heart Association and Stroke Association guidelines. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal case series from May 2022 to February 2023. We included patients who met the Bárány Society’s Vascular Vertigo and Dizziness classification and were eligible for therapy in accordance with the American Heart Association and Stroke Association guidelines, featuring aspects of the stroke group and transient attack group. Results: Overall, 41 patients (51.2% female; median age 72 years) were enrolled; 10 (24.3%) had ischemic strokes, 30 (73.1%) had transient ischemic attack, and 1 (2.4%) had a probable isolated labyrinthine infarction. The patients received dual antiplatelet (48.7%), single antiplatelet therapy (48.7%), and anticoagulant therapy (2.4%). No new crises occurred in 95.2% of the patients, and the transient ischemic attack group showed a significant decrease in discomfort from imbalance on the visual analog scale. Conclusions: Antiplatelets and anticoagulants are safe and effective in treating Vascular Vertigo and Dizziness as they prevent new ischemic events and increase the flow of the posterior circulation, reducing vertigo/dizziness attacks and imbalance complaints. Level of evidence: 4.

Keywords

• Vascular dizziness
• Vertigo dizziness
• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attacks
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency