Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) results in migraine and migrainous vertigo

Abstract Background: The pathophysiology of vertigo is not fully known; thus, it is difficult to diagnose vestibular migraine (VM) in some migraine patients with vertigo symptoms. Aims/objectives: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) in patients with VM. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients diagnosed with migraine and 31 patients with VM were prospectively included in this study. The cVEMP responses were obtained, and P1-N1 latency, interpeak amplitude, amplitude asymmetry ratio were calculated. The patients' demographics, results of physical and audiometric examinations, and VEMP records as well as absence of responses were evaluated and compared between groups. Results: The incidence of ears with absence VEMP responses was found to be numerically higher in the migraine group than in the VM group (p = .106). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences detected between the groups in terms of the p13 or n23 latency, interpeak amplitude, and amplitude asymmetry ratio measured in both right and left ears (p > .05). Conclusions: The increased rate of absent VEMPs was associated with the hypoperfusion of the sacculo-collic reflex pathway in migraine patients. In addition, it was concluded that VEMP reflex responses appear to be insufficient to differentiate between VM and migraine diagnoses.