Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature review

Background. Mal de Debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a rare neuro-otologic disorder that mainly appears for middle-aged women and occurs after long-term passive motion (flight by plane, cruise). The syndrome symptoms can be persistent dizziness, sensation of rocking, unsteadiness, and disequilibrium....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A. Paškonienė, R. Poškutė, V. Markevičiūtė, J. Ivaška, E. Lesinskas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vilnius University Press 2018-12-01
Series:Neurologijos seminarai
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27820
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832593057180024832
author A. Paškonienė
R. Poškutė
V. Markevičiūtė
J. Ivaška
E. Lesinskas
author_facet A. Paškonienė
R. Poškutė
V. Markevičiūtė
J. Ivaška
E. Lesinskas
author_sort A. Paškonienė
collection DOAJ
description Background. Mal de Debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a rare neuro-otologic disorder that mainly appears for middle-aged women and occurs after long-term passive motion (flight by plane, cruise). The syndrome symptoms can be persistent dizziness, sensation of rocking, unsteadiness, and disequilibrium. The syndrome diagnostics is complicated because there is no instrumental examination that could help to diagnose disorder thus neuro-otological examination is non-informative. The diagnosis is based on anamnesis, therefore, MdDS is often undiagnosed or inappropriate diagnosis is determined. To the knowledge of the authors, there are no publications on this syndrome in the Lithuanian language. Therefore, the aim of this article is to introduce this syndrome to Lithuanian doctors by presenting cases diagnosed in Lithuania and diagnostic criteria as well as by reviewing information published in the literature. Methods. Two clinical cases are described. Mal de Debarquement syndrome was diagnosed for two middle-aged women after air travel. Both women complained of sudden dizziness after the trip, however, neuro-otological examination had not revealed any pathology. In the literature review, 21 articles are overviewed describing the Mal de Debarquement syndrome. Results. Diagnostic criteria that helped to diagnose the Mal de Debarquement syndrome in 2016 are presented. A diagnostically significant feature of MdDS is a reduction in symptoms after the patient returns to passive motion. MdDS is often accompanied by anxiety and depression. Research shows that stress-reducing therapy, medications for migraine prophylactic, and lifestyle changes are effective in reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life. Conclusions. MdDS is still a rarely diagnosed disorder in many countries. Clinical symptoms and history of long-term passive motion is especially important for the diagnosis. Neurootological examination is required for differential diagnosis from other clinically similar diseases.
format Article
id doaj-art-3195007b464f453c9c73e6a0d6a5a045
institution Kabale University
issn 1392-3064
2424-5917
language English
publishDate 2018-12-01
publisher Vilnius University Press
record_format Article
series Neurologijos seminarai
spelling doaj-art-3195007b464f453c9c73e6a0d6a5a0452025-01-20T18:23:05ZengVilnius University PressNeurologijos seminarai1392-30642424-59172018-12-01224(78)10.29014/ns.2018.35Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature reviewA. Paškonienė 0R. Poškutė 1V. Markevičiūtė 2J. Ivaška 3E. Lesinskas 4Vilnius University, LithuaniaVilnius University, LithuaniaLithuanian University of Health SciencesVilnius University, LithuaniaVilnius University, Lithuania Background. Mal de Debarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a rare neuro-otologic disorder that mainly appears for middle-aged women and occurs after long-term passive motion (flight by plane, cruise). The syndrome symptoms can be persistent dizziness, sensation of rocking, unsteadiness, and disequilibrium. The syndrome diagnostics is complicated because there is no instrumental examination that could help to diagnose disorder thus neuro-otological examination is non-informative. The diagnosis is based on anamnesis, therefore, MdDS is often undiagnosed or inappropriate diagnosis is determined. To the knowledge of the authors, there are no publications on this syndrome in the Lithuanian language. Therefore, the aim of this article is to introduce this syndrome to Lithuanian doctors by presenting cases diagnosed in Lithuania and diagnostic criteria as well as by reviewing information published in the literature. Methods. Two clinical cases are described. Mal de Debarquement syndrome was diagnosed for two middle-aged women after air travel. Both women complained of sudden dizziness after the trip, however, neuro-otological examination had not revealed any pathology. In the literature review, 21 articles are overviewed describing the Mal de Debarquement syndrome. Results. Diagnostic criteria that helped to diagnose the Mal de Debarquement syndrome in 2016 are presented. A diagnostically significant feature of MdDS is a reduction in symptoms after the patient returns to passive motion. MdDS is often accompanied by anxiety and depression. Research shows that stress-reducing therapy, medications for migraine prophylactic, and lifestyle changes are effective in reducing symptoms and improving the quality of life. Conclusions. MdDS is still a rarely diagnosed disorder in many countries. Clinical symptoms and history of long-term passive motion is especially important for the diagnosis. Neurootological examination is required for differential diagnosis from other clinically similar diseases. https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27820Mal de Debarquement syndromedizzinessvestibular disorder
spellingShingle A. Paškonienė
R. Poškutė
V. Markevičiūtė
J. Ivaška
E. Lesinskas
Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature review
Neurologijos seminarai
Mal de Debarquement syndrome
dizziness
vestibular disorder
title Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature review
title_full Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature review
title_fullStr Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature review
title_full_unstemmed Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature review
title_short Mal de Debarquement syndrome: clinical cases and literature review
title_sort mal de debarquement syndrome clinical cases and literature review
topic Mal de Debarquement syndrome
dizziness
vestibular disorder
url https://www.journals.vu.lt/neurologijos_seminarai/article/view/27820
work_keys_str_mv AT apaskoniene maldedebarquementsyndromeclinicalcasesandliteraturereview
AT rposkute maldedebarquementsyndromeclinicalcasesandliteraturereview
AT vmarkeviciute maldedebarquementsyndromeclinicalcasesandliteraturereview
AT jivaska maldedebarquementsyndromeclinicalcasesandliteraturereview
AT elesinskas maldedebarquementsyndromeclinicalcasesandliteraturereview