Is there a difference in the results of the video head impulse test in patients with a nosological diagnosis of Ménière's Disease and Vestibular Migraine?

Purpose: To compare vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain values, gain symmetry between the semicircular canals (SCCs), and saccadic parameters in patients with a nosological diagnosis of Ménière's disease (MD) and vestibular migraine (VM).

Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee, under evaluation report number 4.462.519. The study was based on medical record analysis of individuals who underwent the Video Head Impulse Test (vHIT). The sample included medical records of 33 patients, divided into two groups - G1, 18 patients with a nosological diagnosis of VM; G2, 15 patients with MD. The study collected information on age, sex, nosological diagnosis, symptoms, associated comorbidities, and vHIT results. Student's t-test and the linear regression model statistically analyzed the data. The significance level was set at 0.05 (95%).

Results: Females predominated (75.76%), with a mean age of 50.18 years. There was a predominance of normal VOR gain in the VM group (44.44%) and vestibular hypofunction in the MD group (40%). There was no significant difference between the groups' mean gain per SCC, nor between the groups' right and left SCCs. G1 had a higher percentage of evident saccades and saccadic dispersion.

Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in VOR gain in the vHIT between the groups, there was a predominance of vestibular hypofunction in the MD group and normal results in the VM group.