Visual evoked potential & brainstem auditory evoked potentials in acute attack & after the attack of migraine

PURPOSE: To study the effect on visual evoked potential (VEP) and brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) at time of acute attack and after 7 days of the attack of migraine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied BAEP and pattern reversal VEP in 25 patients during acute attack and after 7 days of the attack. The diagnosis of migraine was established according to criteria given by international headache society (IHS). Peak and interpeak latencies (IPL's) of BAEP and P100 latency of VEP were the main criteria to judge abnormalities. RESULTS: There were prolonged peak and interpeak latencies in BAEP and prolonged peak latency (P100) in VEP at the time of acute attack of migraine. The data of these abnormal recording were highly significant. After 7 days when the attack was over, we recorded the BAEP and VEP again. The observation obtained at this time was comparable to normal values. CONCLUSIONS: From the observation of this study we can safely conclude that in acute attacks of migraine there may be some pathological changes in different areas of brain and brainstem, producing changes in evoked potential which are statistically highly significant. However, these changes are reversible, as the values of BAEP & VEP on 7th day after the attack were comparable to those observed in normal healthy control.