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Published on: June 2, 2014
Visual evoked potential changes in migraine. Influence of migraine attack and aura
M Yilmaz1, Y A Bayazit, I Erbagci
1Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Kolejtepe, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Objective:
To assess the visual evoked potential (VEP) changes in migraines with and without aura.
Study Design:
A clinical study in which the VEP results of 45 migraineurs (study group) and 22 healthy volunteers (control group) were compared. Of 45 migraineurs, 29 had migraine with aura (MA) and 16 had migraine without aura (MOA), and they were examined both during and between the migraine attacks.
Methods:
The patients and healthy controls underwent VEP assessment. On VEP recording, mono-ocular stimulation was performed by means of the pattern reversal check board. The latencies of N1, P1 and N2, and the N1--P1 amplitude were noted. The following comparisons were made between NI, P1 and N2 latencies and N1--P1 amplitudes of the migraine and control groups; during and between attack the VEP results of the patients with MA and MOA.
Results:
The VEP results of the migraineurs and healthy controls were similar (P>0.05). The during attack results of MA, during and between attack results of MOA, and the results of the control group were also similar (P>0.05). N2 latency significantly elongated in patients with MA in the attack free period than it was during the attack (P=0.01), and was also longer than it was in the control group (P=0.01).
Conclusions:
There is involvement of the visual pathway in MA rather than MOA, and differentiation between these subtypes of the migraine disease may be performed on the basis of VEP findings manifesting by the prolongation of the N2 wave latency. This contention should be confirmed by further studies.
Insights
Visual evoked potential (VEP) changes were assessed in migraine patients. Migraine with aura (MA) showed prolonged N2 latency between attacks compared to controls, suggesting visual pathway involvement.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
Background:
- Migraine is a common neurological disorder.
- Migraine is classified into migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MOA).
- Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) assess the visual pathway's function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate visual evoked potential (VEP) alterations in individuals with migraine with aura (MA) and migraine without aura (MOA).
- To compare VEP findings during and between migraine attacks.
Main Methods:
- A comparative clinical study involving 45 migraineurs and 22 healthy controls.
- VEP assessment using pattern reversal checkerboard stimulation.
- Analysis of N1, P1, N2 latencies and N1-P1 amplitude during and between attacks.
Main Results:
- Overall VEP results were similar between migraineurs and controls.
- N2 latency was significantly prolonged in MA patients during the attack-free period compared to during the attack and to controls.
- No significant VEP differences were observed in MOA patients.
Conclusions:
- The visual pathway is implicated in MA, but not MOA.
- VEP analysis, specifically N2 wave latency prolongation, may help differentiate between MA and MOA subtypes.
- Further research is recommended to confirm these findings.
