A scoring chart to evaluate cases of probable vestibular migraine

Abstract

Objectives

To suggest a chart for the diagnosis of probable vestibular migraine for cases that cannot fit the internationally agreed diagnostic criteria.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled patients who presented with chronic dizziness and attacks of severe vertigo in whom the diagnostic criteria for diagnosing probable vestibular migraine were not applicable, and there was no possibility to account for other vestibular diagnoses. The trial of vestibular migraine treatment was started without any labyrinthine sedatives for a month. Patients whose conditions improved and were vertigo free for the trial period were included in this study. Common complaints, clinical examination findings, and hearing and vestibular test results were analyzed. Findings observed in more than 50% of the included patients were added to a chart. The chart was implemented with a score and included female gender, bilateral tinnitus, aural fullness, significant headache, family history of migraine, and reported hypotension. Any one of them increased the score by one point, while bilateral low frequencies sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral frequency tuning of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials increased the score by two points.

Results

All the patients had a score of 5 or more.

Conclusion

The diagnostic chart is useful for suggesting probable vestibular migraine in cases that do not comply with the internationally agreed diagnostic criteria.

Keywords:

• Bilateral low frequency sensory neural hearing loss
• bilateral tuning of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials
• dizziness
• vertigo

Acknowledgment

Special thanks to Taylor & Francis Editing Services for English reviewing and editing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).