BPPV
Also written as: BPPV — Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
A common vestibular disorder in older adults characterised by brief episodes of dizziness triggered by changes in head position, caused by displaced calcium carbonate crystals (otoconia) within the semicircular canals.
Full Definition
BPPV is the most prevalent cause of vertigo in the geriatric population and a significant contributor to falls risk. The condition arises when otoconia dislodge from the utricle and migrate into a semicircular canal, disrupting normal fluid movement during head repositioning. It is diagnosed by the Dix-Hallpike test and treated with canalith repositioning procedures such as the Epley maneuver. In editorial documents, 'benign' refers to the non-life-threatening nature of the condition, not trivial severity; editors should be alert to authors who omit this qualifier or mischaracterise BPPV as a central neurological disorder. The abbreviation should be defined on first use.
Usage
Usage note: Always expand on first use. Note that 'paroxysmal' is frequently misspelled in clinical manuscripts; verify spelling at each occurrence.
In Context
- "BPPV was confirmed by a positive Dix-Hallpike test and subsequently managed with two cycles of the Epley maneuver." — Outpatient geriatric clinic letter
- "The editor flagged 'BPPV' as undefined on first use in the patient information leaflet." — Editorial checklist note