Analysis of the clinical features of vestibular migraine with MRI changes

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of vestibular migraine with MRI changes. Methods: The clinical data of 150 patients with vestibular migraine completing MRI examination in navy general hospital from August 2008 to August 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Clinical features of 94 (62.7%) vestibular migraine patients with MRI changes were collected and analyzed according to the medical history, clinical symptoms and signs, as well as the result of auxiliary examinations. Results: The manifestations of MRI in vestibular migraine patients were mainly multiple punctate equal T(1) and long T(2) signals or high signals on FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery) in subcortical white matter. The average age of the patients at the visit was (52±15) years old, with the male to female ratio of 1∶3.1. The occurrence of vertigo and migraine were in no particular order, with 54.3% patients presenting migraine several years before vertigo. The duration of vertigo was mostly 24 hours to 72 hours (31.9%). The visual aura (55.3%), photophobia and phonophobia (67.0%) were the most frequently associated symptoms. Conclusions: The vestibular migraine patients with MRI changes have its own specific clinical characteristics and are mainly seen in female with visual aura. The associated symptoms of vestibular migraine appear mostly during the process of vertigo. The pathogenesis of cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) is not clear.