The characteristics and clinical significance of vestibular autorotation test in patients with vestibular migraine

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the characteristics and clinical utility of vestibular autorotation test (VAT) in patients with vestibular migraine(VM). Methods: This study included two groups, a VM group (441 patients from Tianjin First Center Hospital between January 2015 and May 2016) and a control group (65 healthy subjects). Both groups undertook VAT; the parameters evaluated were horizontal gain/phase, vertical gain/phase and asymmetry. The differences in VAT results between the two groups were investigated. Results: There were statistically significant differences in VAT results between the VM and the control group, namely elevated horizontal gain at frequency 2, 3, 4 and 5 Hz, delay horizontal phase at frequency 2, 4, 5 and 6 Hz, elevated vertical gain at frequency 2-6 Hz and delay vertical phase at frequency 4-6 Hz. There was no significant difference in asymmetric values between the VM group and the control group. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that VM patients have elevated horizontal gain and vertical gain, and delay horizontal phase and vertical phase. It is suggested that VAT represents a useful diagnostic tool which may provide objective evidence for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of VM.