Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation. Current concepts on the role of betahistine in the complex treatment of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Abstract

The treatment of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is an urgent issue in modern medicine.Expert Council on the diagnosis and treatment of BPPV was held in Moscow on June 1, 2024. Timely diagnosis and effective treatment play a key role in the management of patients with BPPV, reduce the risk of falls and related injuries, prevent the development of emotional disorders and impairment of daily activities. Accurate patient routing and selection of appropriate treatment can significantly reduce the duration of disability and the burden on the healthcare system. Relatively simple positional tests aimed at detecting involvement of various semicircular canals have been found to be of paramount importance in the diagnosis of BPPV. Repositioning maneuvers are of paramount importance in the treatment of patients with BPPV. They vary depending on the canal affected and aim to move the otoliths out of the semicircular canals to the vestibule of the labyrinth. If repositioning maneuvers can not be performed, effective methods of vestibular gymnastics can be used. When discussing drug therapy, it was found that the use of betahistine in addition to repositioning maneuvers or vestibular gymnastics increases the efficacy of therapy, accelerates the recovery process and prevents the development of residual non-positional vertigo.