The Association Between Idiopathic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Calcium Metabolism

Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate an association between the pathophysiology of idiopathic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and calcium metabolism by urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) a known bone resorption factor. Materials and Methods: During the period March 2011 to April 2012, twenty-three women aged less than 65 years with a diagnosis of idiopathic BPPV underwent bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and urinary D-Pyr analysis. The same tests were performed in a sex and age-matched control group. Results: The incidence of osteopenia or osteoporosis in this study were significantly higher in idiopathic BPPV group than in the BMD control group (p = 0.038). Furthermore, 11 of the 23 patients in the idiopathic BPPV group and 10 of 44 in the D-Pyr control group had significantly elevated urinary D-Pyr levels (p = 0.044). Conclusion: The present study shows an association between idiopathic BPPV and a change in calcium metabolism. The authors believe that this disturbance in calcium metabolism, in terms of increased bone resorption, could induce changes in otolithic organs.