Abstract
In order to clarify the participation of the autonomic nervous system in vertigo and pseudovertigo, clinical and experimental studies were carried out from the cerebral circulatory point of view.
Thirty-three patients with brainstem or cerebellar stroke and 48 age-matched healthy volunteers were subjected to the functional tests of autonomic nervous system. The patients with vertigo or pseudovertigo showed a significant hyporeactivity to Aschner's eyeball pressure test, and significant hyperresponses or distinct differences between lesion and non-lesion sides to both carotid sinus massage and cold pressor tests.
Vasomotor responses of the vertebrobasilar system and carotid arterial system were compared in 33 monkeys. The vasomotor responses to changes in blood pressure were significantly lower in the former than the latter. Contrastly, the vasomotor responses to changes in PaCO2 were higher in the former.
In conclusion, the autonomic dysfunctions and altered vasomotor responses in the vertebroasilar system could play an important role in the emergence of vertigo or pseudovertigo.
