Vestibular function in patients with vestibular migraine

Background and Aim: Vestibular migraine is a type of migraine that causes vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance in addition to typical migraine symptoms. In this study, we aimed to investigate vestibular system in these patients by videonystagmography (VNG), electrocochleography (ECochG), and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing. Methods: This empirical study was conducted on 10 patients aged 18-45 years old (mean age: 29.7 years) with vestibular migraine and 10 normal subjects (mean age: 30.9 years). Immittance, audiometry, VNG, ECochG, and VEMP tests were performed in attack-free phase in both groups. Results: Mean value of spontaneous nystagmus was significantly higher in patients compared to the normal subjects (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in oculomotor, positional, caloric, and ECochG test results between the two groups (p > 0.05). In positional test, pathologic nystagmus was detected in four patients with vestibular migraine, but there was not any significant difference between the two groups in this regard (p > 0.05). Mean p13-n23 amplitude was significantly lower and mean p13 latency was significantly higher in the vestibular migraine patients than that of the control group. Conclusion: Vestibular malfunction was more prevalent in patients with migraine than the control group even between attacks. This malfunction can be observed in both peripheral and central systems. Due to heterogeneity of vestibular disorders in patients with vestibular migraine and the variety of pathologic mechanisms that affect its occurrence and progression, conducting one test alone cannot be helpful in diagnosis; thus, test battery approach is crucial.