Vestibular disorders in euthyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: role of thyroid autoimmunity

SummaryIntroduction A relationship between vestibular disorders and thyroid autoimmunity independently from thyroid function has been postulated. Aim To shed more light on the actual relationship between vestibular lesions and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) regardless of thyroid function. Methods Forty-seven patients with HT (89·4% F; aged 48·3 ± 12·7 years), 21 with multinodular goitre (MNG; 57·1% F; 54·1 ± 9·8 years) and 30 healthy volunteers (56·7% F; 50·7 ± 13·9 years) were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were the presence of normal thyroid function tests and no clinical history of vestibular dysfunction. Each subject was submitted to complete vestibular evaluation [Caloric Test, Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs), Head Shaking Test (HST)]. Results 52·2% of HT patients showed an alteration of VEMPs and 44·7% of caloric test (P