Epidemiology of vestibular migraine

The lifetime prevalence of vestibular migraine has been estimated by studies as being between 1 per cent and 2.7 per cent of the adult population.^{Reference Neuhauser, Radtke, von Brevern, Feldmann, Lezius and Ziese5,Reference Formeister, Rizk, Kohn and Sharon10} It has been described as the second most common cause of vertigo,^{Reference Bisdorff11} the commonest cause of spontaneous vertigo and the most common neurological cause of vertigo.^{Reference Dieterich, Obermann and Celebisoy12} In one study, vestibular migraine was diagnosed in 10.3 per cent of migraineurs in a neurology clinic.^{Reference Cho, Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim and Moon13}

Vestibular migraine tends to have a higher prevalence in women and affects those of a younger average age compared to the typical patient who has had balance or dizziness problems in the previous 12 months. Age under 40 years, a history of head trauma, a history of anxiety or depression, and female sex are all associated with increased odds of having vestibular migraine. Hearing loss and cardiovascular disease were not associated with increased risk.^{Reference Formeister, Rizk, Kohn and Sharon10}

There has recently been increasing awareness, interest and research into this unique condition. However, vestibular migraine as an entity continues to remain poorly recognised, diagnosed and managed, with diagnosis rates quoted to be as low as 1.8 per cent.^{Reference Geser and Straumann14}

Clinical features of vestibular migraine

Vestibular migraine is defined by discrete episodic attacks of vestibular symptoms lasting anywhere between 5 minutes up to 72 hours. The Bárány Society and International Headache Society diagnostic criteria^{Reference Lempert, Olesen, Furman, Waterston, Seemungal and Carey6} (Table 1) fortunately provide a solid framework to aid in the diagnostic process.

Table 1.

Diagnostic criteria for vestibular migraine*

* Criteria jointly formulated by the Committee for Classification of Vestibular Disorders of the Bárány Society and the Migraine Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. ICHD = International Classification of Headache Disorders

Vestibular migraine can present with a relatively broad range of symptoms, although migraine headaches during an attack are not an obligatory feature. Migraine headaches occurred in less than 50 per cent of patients during an episode and tended to be less severe.^{Reference Dieterich, Obermann and Celebisoy12,Reference Beh, Masrour, Smith and Friedman15} Even when there are associated migraine headaches, there can be a temporal disassociation between the headache and vestibular symptoms.^{Reference Neuhauser, Leopold, von Brevern, Arnold and Lempert4} The condition can hence present a diagnostic challenge.

Patients may report a wide range of vestibular symptoms, leading to difficulty describing the attacks. Beh et al. reported that certain patients describe up to six different vestibular symptoms during an attack.^{Reference Beh, Masrour, Smith and Friedman15}

Patients can present with both triggered and/or spontaneous attacks of vertigo. Triggered vertigo includes positional, head motion induced or visually induced attacks. It can be a common presenting symptom^{Reference Beh, Masrour, Smith and Friedman15,Reference von Brevern, Zeise, Neuhauser, Clarke and Lempert16} and can be mistaken for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Positional testing, assessment of nystagmus and regular follow up are key to reducing diagnostic confusion. Spontaneous vertigo can be represented by any number of different vestibular symptoms, including spinning vertigo.^{Reference Beh, Masrour, Smith and Friedman15}

Photophobia and phonophobia frequently occur during attacks and are part of the diagnostic criteria. Auditory symptoms including tinnitus and aural fullness can also occur during an attack and can persist interictally. Persistent and measurable hearing loss is possible but uncommon.^{Reference Dieterich, Obermann and Celebisoy12,Reference Beh, Masrour, Smith and Friedman15}

Assessment of vestibular migraine

Vestibular migraine is typical of an episodic vestibular syndrome, as defined by Newman-Toker and Edlow (2015) when introducing the acronym ‘TitrATE’, a diagnostic approach to aid clinicians when patients present with acute vertigo.^{Reference Newman-Toker and Edlow17} The acronym stands for Timing (classifying dizziness into acute, episodic or chronic), Triggers (identifying any obvious triggers such as head position) and Targeted Exams (targeted neuro-otological examination including eye movements). However, vestibular migraine can also present acutely, akin to an acute vestibular syndrome, when presenting for the first time. Table 2 outlines the main features and differences between the presentations of acute and episodic vestibular syndrome.

Table 2.

Vestibular symptoms can be broadly classified into two main groups on acute presentation

Detailed patient history and clinical examination are the cornerstone of the diagnostic process. The acronym ‘SO STONED’ is useful when taking a history from the vestibular patient, to define symptoms clearly.^{Reference Wuyts, Van Rompaey and Maes18} It covers key aspects of the history in a structured format, to aid the clinician in formulating an appropriate diagnosis. It stands for: Symptoms – the type and nature of symptoms; Often – the frequency of attacks; Since – how and when symptoms commenced; Trigger – any factors that provoke or exacerbate symptoms; Otology – any associated otological symptoms; Neurology – any associated neurological symptoms; Evolution – the progression of symptoms since onset; and Duration – how long symptoms last for, particularly if episodic.

Alongside history-taking, a detailed neuro-otological examination, including cranial nerve assessment, eye movements and positional testing, should be performed in all patients presenting with a history of vestibular symptoms, as outlined in Table 3. Additional examinations based on clinical indications are described in Table 4.

Table 3.

Standard neuro-otological examinations

BPPV = benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Table 4.

Additional examinations based on clinical indication

Dual pathology can also be present, with identification of concurrent Ménière's disease in certain patients, as well as increased incidence of BPPV in migraine disorders.^{Reference Liu and Xu19–Reference Chu, Liu, Lin, Chen and Wang21}

The diagnosis of vestibular migraine should be based on symptom adherence to the current diagnostic criteria, with the caveat that symptoms cannot be accounted for by other similar conditions. However, it is prudent to note that there can be wide symptom overlap with other vestibular disorders, and these should be considered and appropriately investigated as indicated.

Investigations are hence an important part of the diagnostic process, and include magnetic resonance imaging of the head and internal acoustic meatus, to identify retrocochlear, cerebellopontine angle, brainstem and cerebellar pathology.

There can be significant symptomatic overlap between vestibular migraine and Ménière's disease, with no current definitive tests available to reliably differentiate between the two conditions. Audiometry is a key investigation to be considered in all patients presenting with vestibular symptoms. It can be useful in differentiating vestibular migraine from Ménière's disease, particularly in the later stages, as diagnosis of Ménière's disease requires audiometric confirmation of unilateral hearing loss, whilst in vestibular migraine this is not an expected feature, or tends to be bilateral.^{Reference Lopez-Escamez, Carey, Chung, Goebel, Magnusson and Mandalà22}

During acute vestibular migraine attacks, video Frenzel assessment or video-oculography can show pathological spontaneous or central positional nystagmus. This was identified in a study in up to 70 per cent of patients.^{Reference von Brevern, Zeise, Neuhauser, Clarke and Lempert16} Interictal nystagmus including positional nystagmus has also been noted in around 42 per cent of patients.^{Reference Beh, Masrour, Smith and Friedman15,Reference Radtke, von Brevern, Neuhauser, Hottenrott and Lempert23}

Vestibular function tests are useful to determine associated peripheral vestibular dysfunction. During the interictal period, caloric testing results were abnormal in up to 42 per cent of vestibular migraine patients in one study.^{Reference Yoo, Kim, Lee, Yang, Lee and Park24} In the author's own experience, and as reported in a locally conducted unpublished study, up to 30 per cent of vestibular migraine patients had vestibular dysfunction on a battery of vestibular function tests. Abnormal vestibular function test results indicating semi-circular canal dysfunction were predictive of the requirement for prolonged medication treatment in vestibular migraine patients.^{Reference Kang, Lee, Yang, Ahn, Chung and Park25} They are also a useful indicator for patients who may subsequently benefit from vestibular rehabilitation. However, it should be noted that abnormal vestibular function test findings are also found in Ménière's disease patients with comparative results, although some study findings were suggestive of greater abnormalities amongst this patient group.^{Reference Tabet and Saliba26}

Should there be any suspicion of Superior Semi-circular Canal Dehiscence (SSCD) in the patient history, high-resolution computed tomography scan of the temporal bones, cervical and/or ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials testing should be considered.^{Reference Bi, Brewster, Poe, Vernick, Lee and Eduardo Corrales27}

The clinician should also be aware that the concurrent presentation of headaches and vestibular symptoms in the same patient, both prevalent conditions in the population, does not automatically equate to a diagnosis of vestibular migraine. Consideration of further referral to neurology services, for characterisation and treatment of alternate primary or secondary headache disorders, should be considered. Further information on different types of headaches can be found in the British Association for the Study of Headache guidelines.^{Reference Ahmed, Bahra, Tyagi and Weatherby28}

Management of vestibular migraine

High-quality evidence on the management of vestibular migraine is distinctly lacking given the dearth of randomised, controlled trials. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis was only able to identify 13 studies with sufficient outcome measures to be included in their analysis.^{Reference Byun, Levy, Nguyen, Brennan and Rizk29} Hence, management of vestibular migraine is currently based on expert opinion, case series, retrospective and observational studies. However, high-quality studies on migraine headaches can also be cross-referenced and cautiously applied to the management of vestibular migraine.

Individual acute vestibular migraine attacks can be treated symptomatically with prochlorperazine, up to 10 mg, either via oral or intramuscular routes. Prochlorperazine has been shown to be an effective treatment for acute migraine in randomised, controlled trials.^{Reference Friedman, Esses, Solorzano, Dua, Greenwald and Radulescu30} Its anti-vertiginous effect is an added advantage, proving to be of significant benefit in the vestibular migraine population. This class of drug should be used with caution in older adults and in those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Longer-term use should be avoided because of sedation, vestibular sedative, and extra pyramidal side effects.

Triptans are a class of drug used as abortive treatment for migraine when taken at the outset. In a randomised case–control study, zolmitriptan was found to be effective in 38 per cent of vestibular migraine patients, as opposed to 22 per cent in the placebo group.^{Reference Neuhauser, Radtke, von Brevern and Lempert31} Furman, Marcus and Balaban showed an improvement of vestibular-induced motion sickness in migraineurs with rizatriptan.^{Reference Furman, Marcus and Balaban32} These options can hence be trialled for the management of acute vestibular migraine attacks, and should be taken at the start of an attack or during any prodromal phase.

Should there be concurrent headache, this can be managed as per current migraine treatment guidelines, with high-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin, if there are no contraindications.

Vestibular migraine patients should be counselled on the importance of longer-term lifestyle modifications for improved symptom control. This includes regular sleep, aerobic exercise, stress management, regular meals, and maintaining a diary for the identification and avoidance of any obvious triggers such as caffeine. There is also evidence base for the use of certain supplements, which can be effective as migraine prophylaxis.^{Reference Beh33}

If episodic vertigo due to vestibular migraine is frequent and disabling, migraine prophylaxis treatment should be considered, as treating individual episodes is not an option. When to initiate migraine prophylaxis treatment in vestibular migraine patients has not been clearly defined. However, the American Headache Society consensus statement and guidelines for migraine headaches recommend consideration of prophylaxis when there is a significant impact on daily routines despite acute treatment, and when the frequency and severity of attacks is significant. Prophylaxis can be considered with even 2 severe headache days per month, when triptans are used for 10 or more days per month, or when non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or analgesics are used for 15 or more days.^{Reference Ailani, Burch and Robbins34} These recommendations can be cautiously applied to the vestibular migraine patient group when deciding on migraine prophylaxis.

Studies of migraine prophylaxis treatment in vestibular migraine cases continue to remain limited. The only randomised, controlled study to investigate migraine prophylaxis for vestibular migraine had to be terminated early, without any clear benefit of metoprolol over placebo.^{Reference Bayer, Adrion, Al Tawil, Mansmann and Strupp35}

Calcium channel blockers such as flunarizine^{Reference Rashid, Sumaria, Koohi, Arshad and Kaski36} and cinnarizine^{Reference Taghdiri, Togha, Razeghi Jahromi and Refaeian37,Reference El-Badry, Samy, Kabel, Rafat and Sanyelbhaa38} have been shown to be effective prophylactic agents in the vestibular migraine population. As cinnarizine is also an antihistamine, it has the potential for vestibular sedation, and long-term use should be avoided.^{Reference Towse39}

British National Formulary treatment guidelines by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence⁴⁰ recommend propranolol hydrochloride and other beta blockers as first-line preventative treatment in episodic and chronic migraine headaches. Topiramate can be considered if a beta blocker is unsuitable. Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline have also been shown to be effective migraine prophylaxis agents, and can again be considered first-line agents. These guidelines can be applied with caution to the vestibular migraine population, as previous observational studies have found benefit.

A meta-analysis of 13 studies did examine all the above treatment options in the vestibular migraine population; whilst all treatments showed an improvement, no further conclusions could be drawn given the variability of studies and symptoms.^{Reference Byun, Levy, Nguyen, Brennan and Rizk29} A more recent comprehensive review of treatment options identified 23 studies, but, similarly, found it difficult to identify good quality studies and evidence; nevertheless, it did offer some sound practical advice.^{Reference Smyth, Britton, Murdin, Arshad and Kaski41}

Venlafaxine, a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, has been shown to be as effective as amitriptyline and propranolol in reducing vestibular migraine attacks, and can be useful in patients with a concurrent mood disorder.^{Reference Hedayat, Nazarbaghi, Heidari and Sharifi42,Reference Salviz, Yuce, Acar, Karatas and Acikalin43}

All studies have shown a degree of heterogeneity in terms of effectiveness and tolerability of migraine prophylaxis agents. Migraine preventative drugs should be chosen according to the patient's needs, co-morbidities, medical history and side effect profile.^{Reference Beh33,Reference Smyth, Britton, Murdin, Arshad and Kaski41}

Once the decision has been made for migraine prophylaxis treatment, the American Academy of Family Physicians guidelines^{Reference Ha and Gonzalez44} recommend that therapy be commenced at the lowest effective dose, with up-titration every two to four weeks, considering and balancing the benefit to the side effect profile. Prophylaxis should be tried for at least three months at the maximum tolerated dosage prior to deciding on effectiveness. Therapy should be continued until there is at least 6–12 months of symptom control, prior to slow tapering and discontinuation.

The role of vestibular rehabilitation and exercises in the vestibular migraine population remains inconclusive. A recent review identified that, despite the improvements associated with vestibular rehabilitation and exercises shown in all the studies, the evidence remains unclear given the variable quality of studies.^{Reference Alghadir and Anwer45} In the author's own experience, vestibular rehabilitation can play a part when there is an associated peripheral vestibular disorder, and/or in cases where desensitisation is required for associated visual sensitivity and head motion intolerance.