Prevalence of Peripheral Vestibular Impairment in Adults with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Globally, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is responsible for one of the most serious pandemics to date. The vulnerability of the vestibular system in individuals with HIV has been confirmed, and central vestibular impairments have been frequently reported. However, there are disagreements on the impact of HIV on peripheral vestibular function. Thus, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of peripheral vestibular impairment, specifically related to the semi-circular canals (SCCs), in HIV-positive individuals receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 92 adults between the ages of 18 and 50 years (divided into two groups) participated in the study. The first group comprised HIV-positive individuals receiving ARV treatment (n(1)=60), and the second group comprised HIV-negative participants (n(2)=32). The video head impulse test was used to conduct the head impulse paradigm (HIMP). RESULTS: Bilateral normal HIMP results were obtained in 95% of the HIV-positive participants and all HIV-negative participants. The gain of the left posterior SCCs was significantly lower in the HIV-positive group, while the gains of all other canals between the two groups were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of peripheral vestibular impairment in the HIV-positive group was not significantly different from that of the HIV-negative group. The reduced prevalence in the current study may be attributed to participant characteristics, the test battery employed, and the central compensation of the vestibular dysfunctions at the later stages of infection.