Abstract
Objectives Vestibular neuritis (VN) etiology remains elusive, with hypotheses suggesting viral infection, non-infectious inflammation, or immune responses. This study aims to assess the T and B lymphocyte subsets and cytokine expressions in the blood of vestibular neuritis patients. This study shed light on its pathogenesis and provided valuable hematological markers for clinical prognosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 25 subjects diagnosed with acute vestibular neuritis at the Department of Neurology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, from January 2022 to June 2023. Within 1–3 days of onset, all patients underwent blood tests and initial Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scale evaluations. A secondary DHI assessment was performed upon discharge, between days 7–10 post-onset. A group of 25 healthy individuals served as controls.Results Vestibular Neuritis (VN) patients exhibited elevated levels of total B lymphocytes (CD3-CD19+), helper/inducer (CD3 + CD4+) T cells, and the helper/suppressor (CD4+/CD8+) T cell ratio all of which were statistically significant compared to the control group. Conversely, there was a reduction in the levels of total T lymphocytes (CD3 + CD19-), suppressor/cytotoxic T cells (CD3 + CD8+), and natural killer (NK) cells. Elevated Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and decreased Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) levels were seen in the VN group compared to controls. There are differences in the levels of CD3 + CD4 + T cells and CD4+/CD8 + T cell ratio among patients in the three groups of mild, moderate, and severe, with the severe group significantly higher than the mild group. Admission levels of CD3 + CD4 + T cells showed a positive relationship with the DHI-Functional (DHI-F) score within 1–3 days. Admission levels of CD3 + CD4 + T cells and CD4+/CD8 + T cell ratio are positively correlated with all DHI scores (including the DHI Total Index and three DHI Subscales) at discharge 7–10 days post-onset.Conclusions Immunological perturbations are implicated in pathogenesis of vestibular neuritis. Evaluation of these immune markers could offer insights into prognostic outcomes for vestibular neuritis patients, leading to development of therapeutic strategies.