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Cristina Freitas Ganança

Publications and source records attributed to Cristina Freitas Ganança.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

[Signs and symptoms associated to otoneurologic alterations diagnosed on computerized vestibular exam of patients with multiple sclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify main symptoms and signs on computerized vestibular testing in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. METHOD: Thirty patients with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis were studied. We analyzed data related to presented symptoms and the findings from a computerized vestibular testing realized in the otoneurological ambulatory in Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo in 2003. RESULTS: Reported symptoms consisted mainly of disequilibrium (60%), tingling of limbs (43.3%), vertigo (40%), headache and anxiety (36.7%), tinnitus (30%), depression (26.7%). In vestibular testing we found alterations in positional nystagmus (6.7%), spontaneous nystagmus with the eyes shut (30%), directional nystagmus (13.3%) and caloric testing (63.3%). In the final conclusion of the exam, the diagnosis of irritative type peripheral vestibular syndrome (60%) and central syndrome (13.4%) prevailed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the realization of an otoneurological exam has become indispensable in patients with multiple sclerosis. This is due to high prevalence of alterations at computerized vestibular exam and of otoneurological symptoms.

Adult↗

Clonazepam in the pharmacological treatment of vertigo and tinnitus.

We carried out a retrospective survey of 25 years of clinical experience with the use of clonazepam as a vestibular and tinnitus suppressant in the pharmacological treatment of vestibular or cochleovestibular disorders due to different causes. We reviewed the medical records of 3,357 outpatients treated with a 0.5 or 1.0-mg daily dosage of oral clonazepam during 60-180 days. Complete or substantial control of vertigo or nonvertiginous dizziness was achieved in 77.4% of the vertigo patients. Tinnitus was improved in 32.0% of the tinnitus patients. Light or mild drowsiness, depression, nightmares, or lowering of libido, reported by 16.9% of the patients as adverse side effects, tended to subside with continued therapy. We concluded that clonazepam is a very useful and safe drug for the symptomatic treatment of patients suffering from cochleovestibular disorders.

Adolescent↗

Oculomotor evaluation in patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

AIM: To assess whether or not the parameters of fixed and randomized saccadic movements, of pendular tracking and of optokinetic nystagmus in the digital vectonystagmography may show abnormalities in patients with possible diagnosis of peripheral vestibular dysfunction. METHOD: 60 patients with dizziness of peripheral vestibular origin, from 12 to 82 years of age, males and females, were evaluated in the Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Ocular movement parameter findings were compared to a normal pattern. RESULTS: Fixed saccadic movements were altered in 100% of the cases as to latency, and in 35.0% of the cases as to speed; the randomized saccadic movements were altered in 100% of the cases as to latency, in 78.3% as to precision, and in 1.7% as to speed; the pendular tracking showed a gain alteration in the frequencies of 0.1 Hz in 15% of the cases, 0.2 Hz in 21.7%, and 0.4 Hz in 13.3%; the optokinetic nystagmus showed an alteration of the angular speed in the slow component in 1.7% of the cases, and in gain in 5.0%. CONCLUSION: Fixed saccadic movement latency and speed, randomized saccadic movement latency, precision and speed, pendular tracking gain, slow component angular speed, and optokinetic nystagmus gain in the digital vectonystagmography may show abnormalities in patients with possible diagnosis of peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

Adolescent↗