Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42712447›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in neurology2026

Nystagmus phenotypes in posterior circulation stroke.

F K Schwarz, P Rommer, U Schwarz-Nemec, S Greisenegger, G Wiest

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

F K SchwarzDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
P RommerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
U Schwarz-NemecDepartment of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Division of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
S GreiseneggerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
G WiestDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) is characterized by sudden, persistent vertigo or dizziness with nausea, vomiting, postural instability, and spontaneous nystagmus. Differentiating peripheral vestibular disorders from posterior circulation stroke remains a major diagnostic challenge in emergency neurology, as vestibulo-cerebellar infarcts may present as "central pseudo-neuritis," mimicking peripheral vestibular disease. Although the HINTS examination is a valuable bedside tool, its reliability depends on the presence and characterization of nystagmus and is reduced in patients without spontaneous nystagmus. Objective: To characterize nystagmus phenotypes in posterior circulation stroke using videooculography (VOG) and to identify features that improve recognition of central vestibular pathology in patients with AVS. Methods: Retrospective single-center descriptive cohort study of 34 patients with posterior circulation stroke confirmed by neuroimaging, who underwent VOG between 2014 and 2026. Eye movements were assessed using VOG and nystagmus features (direction, gaze dependence, fixation suppression, head-shaking responses) were correlated with lesion location. Results: Thirty-four patients were included; nystagmus was present in 70% (24/35). Of these, 50% showed multiple nystagmus phenotypes and 50% a single pattern. Spontaneous nystagmus (horizontal or vertical) and Head-shaking nystagmus (HSN) both occurred in 62%, while gaze-evoked nystagmus was rare (12%). There was a non-significant trend toward a higher prevalence of HSN in PICA infarctions (OR 4.81) and HSN showed cross-coupled or direction changing features in 80% of patients. No clear correlation was found between the side of the lesion and the direction of nystagmus, nor between fixation and the slow-phase velocity (SPV) of nystagmus. Conclusion: Nystagmus is a frequent clinical feature of posterior circulation stroke with heterogenous phenotypes. Lesion laterality did not correlate with nystagmus direction, and fixation did not consistently alter SPV. HSN was a frequent sign of central vestibular dysfunction. Performance of the head shaking test may improve detection of central vestibular pathology and complement the HINTS examination in acute vertigo.

Indexed as

Nystagmus, PathologicStrokeAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhenotypeRetrospective Studiesacute vestibular syndromenystagmusposterior circulationstrokevideooculography

Identifiers

PMID42712447
PMCPMC13549893

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.