Clinical characteristics of probable vestibular migraine

Background The International Classification of Vestibular Disorders defines probable vestibular migraine (PVM) as an episodic vestibular disorder with either a history of migraine (criterion B) or migraine features during vestibular episodes (criterion C). Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of PVM, focusing on items in the diagnostic criteria. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 30 consecutive PVM patients diagnosed according to the Barany classification. The PVM patients were divided into two groups: those who fulfilled the criterion B (pre-existing migraine group) and those who fulfilled the criterion C (migraine features group). Results Twenty-four patients (80%) were in the pre-existing migraine group and the remaining 6 patients (20%) were in the migraine features group. All patients in the migraine features group had headache episodes. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to prevalence of migraine features listed in the criterion C and abnormal testing results. Conclusions The diagnosis of PVM was based on a history of migraine in most patients and on migraine features during vestibular episodes only in a few. All patients with migraine features during vestibular episodes had also headache episodes.