Vestibular migraine: A correlation study between clinical findings and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs)

ObjectivesVestibular migraine (VM) is one of the most common causes of episodic vertigo. Several studies have reported abnormal cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) in VM patients. Recent studies have investigated the diagnostic values of ocular vestibular myogenic evoked potentials (oVEMPs) in VM patients. However, they were few and rarely attempted to correlate the finding with the results of other vestibular tests. So this study aimed to investigate both cVEMPs and oVEMPs in VM patients and to correlate their results with other clinical findings.Subjects and methodsThe study group consisted of twenty adult patients with criteria of definite VM. The control group included age and gender matched twenty healthy subjects. For all subjects detailed history and basic audiologic evaluation were done. Vestibular evaluation included clinical office tests and VEMPs (cVEMPs and oVEMPs). Patients were examined during interictal period and in the absence of vertigo.ResultsTrue vertigo was experienced in 60% of patients, while 40% patients had sense of unsteadiness. Office tests for vestibulo-spinal reflex were abnormal in 5 patients (25%). Abnormal oVEMPs responses were more frequent (No. = 19 “95%”) than cVEMPs (No = 15 “75%”). The main abnormality was prolonged latency and/or decreased amplitude. Affection was more bilateral while absent response was less frequently encountered. Significant correlation was found between abnormal office tests and VEMPs abnormalities.ConclusionsBoth cVEMPs and oVEMPs abnormalities were detected in VM patients. Abnormal office tests were among patients with severe VEMPs affection during interictal period.