Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in a Female Population with Migraine

The objective is to analyze the vestibular system by vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in 30 female patients with migraine and balance problem in a controlled study. Thirty female patients with migraine and vestibular problems were enrolled in the study (2009–2012). Fifteen age-matched healthy subjects were selected as the controls. Air conduction cervical VEMP was used. Tone-burst sound stimuli of 95 dB nHL with rarefaction polarity, 5 Hz stimulus repetition rate, 1 ms rise/fall time and 2 ms plateau time were delivered at 500 Hz. 200 sweeps were averaged. Myogenic responses were amplified and band-pass filtered (800–10 Hz). The latency and the amplitude of p1 and n1 waves and interpeak amplitude and latency differences were measured. Results were given as mean and SDs. Interaural p1 and n1 amplitude greater than 30 % asymmetry was accepted as abnormal. VEMP results were compared with controls. The One-way ANOVA test was used. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. VEMP responses were elicited in all controls and the patients. Comparative analysis of p1 amplitude between the patients and the controls was statistically significant (P = 0.010). P1n1 interaural amplitude difference was greater than 30 % in 4 patients (13.4 %). No statistically significant difference was found when comparing latency of all wave forms between the patients and healthy controls (P > 0.05). VEMP is an useful tool to test the vestibular system in patients with migraine and balance problem at the very early period. Clinicians should always consider migraine in patients with vertigo.