Patients with migraine correctly estimate the visual verticality

We wanted to study otolith function by measuring the static subjective visual vertical (SVV) in migraine patients and in controls with and without kinetosis (motion sickness).

Forty-seven patients with moderately severe migraine and 96 healthy controls were enrolled. Using a questionnaire, persons with kinetosis were identified. The SVV test was performed in a totally dark room. Subjects wore a stiffneck to stabilize the head in an erect position. They were required to adjust an infrared line to the gravitational vertical with a hand-held infrared remote controlled potentiometer.

The deviation of SVV in the group of migraine patients was not significantly different from that of controls, regardless of whether an aura was associated. SVV was not significantly influenced by the presence of dizziness/non specific vertigo or kinetosis.

Patients with moderately severe migraine under prophylactic medication correctly estimate the visual verticality in the headache-free period. It is suggested that a deviation of SVV in a headache-free migraine patient may not be attributed to his migraine disorder as such regardless whether kinetosis is associated.