Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in chronic renal disease.

Background: There is limited evidence to provide an insight on the VEMP characteristics to explain the association between chronic renal disease (CRD) and its effect on otolith structures.

Objective: To compare the otolithic function of individuals with CRD and individuals with no known CRD. To investigate the relationship between disease duration and VEMP and creatine level and VEMP among individuals with CRD.

Method: A cross-sectional study design using convenient sampling method was adapted for the present study. A total of 50 adults aged between 40 and 60 years participated in the study. Group 1 included 25 individuals with CRD undergoing hemodialysis and Group 2 included 25 individuals with no known CRD. cVEMP and oVEMP were recorded from participants in both groups.

Results: cVEMP and oVEMP was absent in 28% and 44% of individuals with CRD respectively, while, both VEMPs were present among all participants in group 2. Further, peak-to-peak amplitude of VEMP was reduced in individuals with CRD suggesting abnormal otolith function. In addition, a negative correlation was found between disease duration and the peak-to-peak amplitude of VEMP.

Conclusion: The abnormal VEMP findings in individuals with CRD shows presence of otolithic dysfunction along with amplitude is found to decrease with an increase in the disease duration.