Migraine and vestibular symptoms--identifying clinical features that predict "vestibular migraine"

Background.— Migraine and symptoms that may suggest a vestibular disorder (referred to herein broadly as vestibular symptoms—VS) often co‐exist. In part due to a lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, this relationship remains unknown to many physicians. Objective.— To determine common clinical features that may be associated with “vestibular migraine” (VM). Methods.— We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients diagnosed with VM at a headache center. In this group we recorded certain demographic and clinical features related to their disorder, including the most common triggers of the VS and the specific characteristics of the symptoms that suggested VM. Results.— Our sample consisted of 147 patients (68% women, mean age = 45 years, 39% with aura). Migraine onset preceded the onset of VS by a mean of 8 years. A total of 62 patients (42%) had gradual onset of VS, while in 48 (33%) symptoms began suddenly. The most commonly reported symptoms that led to the diagnosis of VM were: unsteadiness (134; 91%), balance disturbance (120; 82%), “light‐headedness” (113; 77%), and vertigo (84; 57%). VS and headache occurred concomitantly in 48% of patients. A total of 67 (47%) patients had VS that were chronic from onset, 29 (21%) had episodic symptoms, and in 46 (32%) the VS had evolved from episodic to chronic (with an average duration of 7.04 years required for this evolution to occur). Conclusions.— Vestibular migraine is a heterogeneous condition with varying symptomatology. As with migraine itself, symptomatic expression varies along a spectrum that extends from episodic to chronic. As the histories of many of the patients we evaluated would not meet current International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria, we suggest that new criteria which account for the heterogeneity and natural history of the disorder may be required to adequately diagnose and treat those who suffer from VM.     

脑电图、经颅多普勒检测技术在前庭性偏头痛诊断中的应用价值

目的探讨脑电图(EEG)、经颅多普勒(TCD)检测技术在前庭性偏头痛(VM)诊断中的应用价值。方法选取我院2016年8月至2019年8月收治的116例VM患者作为研究组,另选取同期116名健康体检者作为对照组。两组均进行EEG、TCD检测,并对临床检查结果进行分析。结果研究组EEG异常率、TCD异常率均明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。EEG+TCD联合检测的异常率明显高于单项检测(P<0.05)。结论EEG+TCD联合检测可提高VM的诊断率,并为治疗方案的选择提供指导依据。     

前庭性偏头痛患者前庭功能变化情况及临床特点分析

目的分析前庭性偏头痛患者前庭功能变化情况及临床特点。方法选取我院2018年1月至2019年6月收治的60例前庭性偏头痛患者,设为观察组;另选取2018年1月至2019年6月于我院接受常规体检的60例健康成年人,设为对照组。对比两组前庭功能,获取观察组患者前庭功能变化情况,同时结合其临床资料分析病情特点。结果观察组冷热试验、视频头脉冲试验、听阈、气骨导、声导抗异常率分别为51.67%、78.33%、10.00%、8.33%、15.00%,均高于对照组的11.67%、11.67%、1.67%、0.00%、0.00%,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者平均前庭症状持续时间为(6.2±1.1)h,普遍偏长;在观察组患者中,42例(70.00%)前庭症状持续时间偏长、36例(60.00%)眩晕、31例(51.67%)畏光、33例(55.00%)畏声、19例(31.67%)视觉先兆,均以中年多发、女性多发为主要特点。结论前庭性偏头痛患者前庭功能出现明显变化,且临床特点多样,前庭功能变化是导致临床症状和症状加重的主要因素。     

Flunarizine, the vestibular system and migraine

The vestibular function was extensively investigated in 75 patients suffering from migraine. Pathological findings were present in 62 patients (82.6%). With the exception of position nystagmus, vestibular abnormalities were not related to migraine characteristics. Fifty-six patients were treated with flunarizine 10 mg daily for three months. A favourable effect on headache was obtained in 44 patients (78.5%). Flunarizine therapy influenced significantly gaze nystagmus and position nystagmus. The latter tended to be related to anti-migraine efficacy. Other electronystagmographic parameters were not substantially influenced. The authors assume that the vestibular abnormalities in migraine are side phenomena, the clinical relevance of which, at least during the headache-free phase, is not yet well understood.     

确诊型前庭性偏头痛42例临床特征及相关检测 结果分析

目的:分析确诊型前庭性偏头痛(dVM)的临床特征及相关检测结果,优化dVM诊断标准。方法:按照Bárány学会诊断标准,纳入就诊于我院的d VM患者42例,对其临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果:本组患者年龄为24～68岁,平均(48.9±11.9)岁;男女比例为1:4.3。38.1%(16例)为头运动诱发眩晕,61.9%(26例)为自发性眩晕;64.3%(27例)d VM患者发作持续时间1 h;73.8%(31例)为无先兆偏头痛,52.4%(22例)的患者偏头痛起病早于前庭症状;81.0%(34例)患者有畏光、畏声的表现;50.0%(21例)有晕动症,26.2%(11例)患者伴听力受损,温度试验后33.3%(14例)患者伴单侧半规管功能减低,同时有40.5%的患者伴温度试验不耐受。30.9%(13例)的dVM患者中枢眼动异常,38.1%(16例)免疫相关指标异常患者,其中血清甲状腺抗体阳性10例(62.5%)。结论:dVM以女性多见,眩晕多呈自发发作,症状持续时间多1 h,偏头痛起病多早于前庭症状,发作时多伴畏光畏声;晕车史及双温试验不耐受亦不少见。     

Vestibulo-ocular reflex abnormalities in patients with migraine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the high-frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in patients with migraine, with and without dizziness and aura. BACKGROUND: Migraine is a common cause of dizziness. Although many vestibular testing abnormalities have been documented in migraine patients, high-frequency VOR abnormalities have not been reported. METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients with migraine were studied with the vestibular autorotation test (VAT). The patients were subclassified as having migraine headache only, migraine with visual aura, migraine with dizziness, or migraine with visual aura and dizziness. RESULTS: Only a high vertical phase in the 4 to 5 Hz range was correlated with migraine (correlation coefficients: .356, P=.03). Further analysis revealed that an abnormal 4 to 5 Hz vertical phase result also was positively correlated with migraine with aura and dizziness (correlation coefficients: .392). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that patients with migraine may have an abnormal vertical VOR at higher head movement frequencies. Migraine patients with visual aura and dizziness are even more likely to have this abnormality.     

How caloric vestibular irritation influences migraine attacks

Stimulation of the vestibular system by cold irritation of the ear was performed in 12 patients during a migraine attack. In eleven of the subjects the headache was changed. The changes varied from completely disappeared to a slight decrease. The duration of the changes was either several minutes, during the vestibular irritation, or days. All changes were related to the induced sensation of vertigo. We discuss the probable mechanisms of these vestibular influences.     

Horizontal Direction‐Changing Positional Nystagmus and Vertigo: A Case of Vestibular Migraine Masquerading as Horizontal Canal BPPV

Episodic positional vertigo is typically due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) but may also be a manifestation of vestibular migraine. Distinguishing vestibular migraine from BPPV is essential since the treatment of each disorder is markedly different. The 31‐month clinical course of a 41‐year‐old woman with vestibular migraine causing recurrent positional vertigo is described. During vestibular migraine attacks, she developed left‐beating nystagmus in the upright position with removal of fixation, and geotropic horizontal nystagmus during the supine roll test. Interictally, her exam demonstrated positional apogeotropic horizontal nystagmus with the supine roll test, more intense in the supine head left position. Her vestibular migraine was successfully controlled with topiramate and eletriptan.     

Migrainous Vertigo: Results of Caloric Testing and Stabilometric Findings

Background.— Association between migraine and vertigo has been widely studied during the last years. A central or peripheral vestibular damage may occur in patients with migrainous vertigo. Despite much evidence, at present the International Headache Society classification does not include a specific category for migrainous vertigo. Objectives.— To assess the prevalence of central and peripheral vestibular disorders and postural abnormalities in patients diagnosed as affected by definite migrainous vertigo according to Neuhauser. Methods.— Thirty patients with migraine and acute vertigo lasting from minutes to hours underwent a full otoneurological screening for spontaneous, positional, and positioning nystagmus with head‐shaking and head‐thrust (Halmagyi) tests, an audiometric examination, and videonystagmography with bithermal stimulation according to Freyss. Videonystagmographic findings were compared with those of 15 migraineurs without lifetime vertigo (group M). Next day, a static posturography was performed; posturographic results have been compared with those of a second control group of 30 healthy patients matched for age and sex (group C). Results.— In total, 14 subjects with migrainous vertigo showed otovestibular disorders; 6 subjects showed impaired vestibulo‐oculomotor reflexes (20%). Five more patients had bilateral increased responses (16.6%). Five patients showed signs of central brainstem or cerebellar disorders for altered pursuit or saccades or positional direction changing nystagmus. Stabilometric results returned higher values of Length and Surface above all when testing was performed in eyes closed conditions compared with the normal control group. The subgroup of 14 subjects with migrainous vertigo and vestibular abnormalities performed poorly in stabilometric exams and seemed to rely more on visual cues in balance control than the subgroup of 16 subjects with migrainous vertigo but without abnormalities. Discussion.— Our results indicate that vestibular functional damage may occur in all vestibular pathways; central and peripheral signs are equally represented. Our data are not inconsistent with the hypothesis that a vestibulo‐spinal dysfunction is the causal factor for the posturographic results. Moreover, the Visual Romberg Index is significant for increased visual cue dependence in migraineurs.     

The vestibulo-collic reflex is abnormal in migraine

Interictal evoked central nervous system responses are characterized in migraineurs by a deficit of habituation, at both cortical and subcortical levels. The click-evoked vestibulo-collic reflex (VCR) allows the assessment of otolith function and an oligosynaptic pathway linking receptors in the saccular macula to motoneurons of neck muscles. Three blocks of 75 averaged responses to monaural 95-dB normal hearing level 3-Hz clicks were recorded over the contracted ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle in 25 migraineurs between attacks and 20 healthy subjects, without vestibular symptoms. Amplitudes, raw and corrected for baseline electromyography, were significantly smaller in migraine patients. Whereas in healthy volunteers the VCR habituated during stimulus repetition (-4.96% +/- 14.3), potentiation was found in migraineurs (4.34% +/- 15.3; P = 0.04). The combination with a reduced mean amplitude does not favour vestibular hyperexcitability as an explanation for the habituation deficit in migraine, but rather an abnormal processing of repeated stimuli in the reflex circuit.