Changes of video head impulse test results in lateral semicircular canal plane by different peak head velocities in patients with vestibular neuritis.

The peak head velocity influences on the video head impulse test (vHIT) results, but it has been not known how much the difference is. To evaluate the clinical evidence for the superiority of high-velocity compared to low-velocity vHIT. vHIT was performed in 30 patients with vestibular neuritis using two peak head velocities (mean 80 vs. 240°/s). vHIT gains and parameters of corrective saccades (CSs) were compared. A vHIT gain of ≤0.8 or a peak CS velocity of ≥100°/s was considered pathologic. The vHIT gains were significantly lower (mean 0.5 vs. 0.6), and GA was larger (35 vs. 25%) at high-velocity vHIT, compared to low-velocity vHIT. CSs were significantly more frequent (100 vs. 80%) and peak CS velocities were larger (252 vs. 112°/s) at high-velocity vHIT. The abnormal rates based on vHIT gains were higher (90% vs. 73%) and CSs occurred more frequently (100% vs. 80%) at high-velocity vHIT. The abnormal rates based on the peak CS velocity were significantly higher at high-velocity vHIT (100% vs. 57%). High-velocity vHIT is superior to low-velocity vHIT with a difference of 17-20% based on pathologic vHIT gains and presence of CSs.