Comparison of Sensory Organisation Test Results in Patients With Ménière's Disease and Vestibular Migraine: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in a Chinese Cohort.

Objectives: We aimed to characterise the sensory organisation test (SOT) performance and compare the posturographic difference between patients with Ménière's disease (MD) and those with vestibular migraine (VM) in the Chinese population.

Design: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in accordance with the STROBE guidelines.

Setting: Tertiary medical centre.

Participants: Seventy-one patients with unilateral definite MD, 57 patients with definite VM, and 58 controls.

Main outcome measure: Audiometry, caloric test and SOT were conducted. The balance-related variables included: equilibrium score (ES) in each SOT condition, composite ES and sensory ratios (SOM, VIS, VEST and PREF).

Results: Composite ES and ESs in SOT 5 and 6 were dramatically lower in MD patients than in VM counterparts. For the sensory ratio, the abnormal rate was highest for VIS ratio (31.6%), followed by VEST (19.3%) and PREF ratio (1.8%) in VM patients. In MD patients, the abnormal rate was highest for VEST ratio (42.3%), followed by VIS (32.4%) and PREF ratio (12.7%). Ménière's stage was negatively correlated with ES in SOT 5, composite ES and VEST ratio. In the VM group, ESs (composite and in SOT 1-6) and sensory ratios were not correlated with gender, age or caloric results. Compared with VM patients, MD patients were more likely to have lower or abnormal VEST ratio.

Conclusion: Despite similar clinical manifestations, MD and VM display distinct patterns of balance impairment demonstrated by SOT, which may be associated with different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Future study with disease subtyping and phase stratification using comprehensive vestibular tests is warranted.