Impact of caloric test asymmetry on response to treatment in vestibular migraine.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between caloric asymmetry and response to treatment in patients with vestibular migraine. METHOD: Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores were compared between patients with less than and more than 25 per cent asymmetry (using Cohen effect size) in a cohort of definite vestibular migraine patients who underwent caloric testing between August 2016 and March 2019. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients (mean age: 48.7 ± 20.0 years; mean follow up: 9.1 ± 8.1 months) were included. Mean caloric asymmetry was 15.1 ± 15.6 per cent, with 6 (19.4 per cent) patients having asymmetry more than 25 per cent. Overall, patients experienced significant improvement in Dizziness Handicap Inventory total (d = 0.623 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.007, 1.216)), emotional domain (d = 0.635 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.019, 1.229)) and functional domain (d = 0.769 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.143, 1.367)) but not physical domain (d = 0.227 (95 per cent confidence interval, -0.370, 0.815)) scores. Patients with more than 25 per cent asymmetry had no significant improvement in Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores, whereas those with less than 25 per cent asymmetry had significant improvement in Dizziness Handicap Inventory functional domain scores only (d = 0.636 (95 per cent confidence interval, 0.004, 1.244)). CONCLUSION: Vestibular migraine patients with peripheral vestibular weakness on caloric testing may be less likely to improve after treatment compared with those without.

Pharmacotherapy failure and progression to botulinum toxin injection in vestibular migraine.

OBJECTIVE: Given the lack of evidence on patients with medically refractory vestibular migraine, this study aimed to identify factors associated with pharmacotherapy failure and progression to botulinum toxin injection in vestibular migraine. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on definite vestibular migraine patients from September 2015 to July 2019 who completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory at least six weeks apart.. RESULTS: The study comprised 47 patients (mean age = 50.2 ± 15.8 years), with a mean follow-up time of 6.0 ± 6.0 months. The mean pre-treatment Dizziness Handicap Inventory score was 57.5 ± 23.5, with a mean reduction of 17.3 ± 25.2 (p < 0.001) at last follow up. Oscillopsia (r = 0.458, p = 0.007), failure of first medication (r = 0.518, p = 0.001) and pre-treatment Dizziness Handicap Inventory question 15 (an emotional domain question) score (r = 0.364, p = 0.019) were the only variables significantly correlated with progression to botulinum toxin injection. CONCLUSION: Motion hypersensitivity, failure of first medication, and fear of social stigmatisation suggest a decreased treatment response. These symptoms may require more aggressive treatment at an earlier stage.

Depression in Ménière's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ménière's disease is a debilitating chronic peripheral vestibular disorder associated with psychiatric co-morbidities, notably depression. METHODS: Database searches were performed to identify studies that assessed depression in Ménière's disease. Metrics used to diagnose depression were extracted, along with the prevalence of depression in each study. RESULTS: Fifteen studies from 8 different countries reported on 6587 patients. The weighted average age was 55.3 years (range, 21-88 years). Depression was measured by eight different scales, with Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale used most often. A weighted proportion of 45.9 per cent of patients (confidence interval = 28.9-63.3) were depressed. Weighted averages (± standard deviations) of Beck's Depression Inventory and the Illness Behavior Questionnaire - Dysphoria were 8.5 ± 7.9 and 2.4 ± 1.7, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression in patients with Ménière's disease is nearly 50 per cent. Treating otolaryngologists should have a low threshold to screen and refer appropriately. Identifying and treating depression should allow for improvement of overall quality of life in patients with Ménière's disease.