Pregnancy and vertigo

Background: The causes of vertigo in pregnant patients remain obscure. Therefore, we carried out this study. Methods: Fifteen pregnant women with vertigo were subjected to a battery of audiological and neurotological tests from June 1994 to July 1997. Results: Of 15 patients, 9 (60%) were with advanced maternal age, 8 (53%) were primipara, and 9 (60%) attacked during the third trimester. Among them, 5 (33%) were diagnosed as basilar artery migraine, 3 as vestibulopathy, and to our surprise, 1 (7%) as brain tumor. Conclusion: Although rare, vertigo during pregnancy was prone to occur in advanced maternal age, primipara, and third trimester. In differential diagnosis, brain tumor should be taken into consideration.