Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with inactive stage of systemic lupus erythematosus

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may develop hearing and balance disorders as a result of the immune-mediated inner ear damage. Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is a new vestibular test assesses the vestibulospinal tract. Balance disorders such as endolymphatic hydrops may occur as a result of perisaccular deposition of immune complexes in these patients. Although the vestibular system abnormality in the patients has been demonstrated، the function of the part of vestibular system including vestibulospinal tract has not been investigated so far. This study aimed to compare the vestibular evoked myogenic potentials between patients with inactive stage of systemic lupus erythematosus and normal individuals.

In this cross-sectional study، vestibular evoked myogenic potential was recorded between 26 healthy subjects and 20 patients with lupus erythematosus in inactive stage of disease aged 20 to 50 years old، using 500 Hz-tone bursts at 95 dB nHL.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials responses were present in all (100%) of the participants. There was no significant difference in mean peak to peak amplitude and assymetry ratio between two groups. The mean p13 and n23 latencies were significantly higher in patients (p<0. 05). Duration of disease had no effect on test parameters.

According to the prolonged latency of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials response in patients with lupus erythematosus، lesions in the retrolabyrinthine، especially in the vestibulospinal tract is suspected. Due to small sample size، there is no possibility for generalizing this result to all patients with lupus lupus erythematosus.