Video head impulse test (vHIT) in migraine dizziness.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Ophthalmology
• Vestibular System

Background:

• Migraine is a common neurological disorder often accompanied by vestibular symptoms like dizziness and hearing loss.
• Vestibular migraine (VM) is a specific subtype characterized by migraine attacks and vestibular dysfunction.
• The video head impulse test (vHIT) assesses the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare vHIT results between patients with vestibular migraine and healthy individuals.
• To analyze vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain, saccade latency, and amplitude in VM patients.
• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of vHIT in identifying vestibular migraine.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 120 participants: 80 with vestibular migraine (VM) and 40 age-matched healthy controls.
• Evaluations included patient history, videonystagmography, and the video head impulse test (vHIT).

Main Results:

• Vestibular migraine patients exhibited a significantly higher rate of saccades compared to the control group.
• A small percentage (7.5%) of VM patients showed low VOR gain with compensatory saccades, indicating vestibular deficits.
• Refixation saccades were identified as a key indicator in VM patients.

Conclusions:

• Refixation saccades observed during vHIT are significant indicators of vestibular dysfunction.
• vHIT results can be a valuable component in the comprehensive diagnosis of vestibular migraine.
• vHIT aids in understanding the vestibular aspects of migraine.