Vestibular migraine: the chameleon in vestibular disease

Neurol Sci. 2021 May;42(5):1719-1731. doi: 10.1007/s10072-021-05133-1. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Abstract

Vestibular migraine (VM) has been recently receiving increasing attention as an independent disease concept. It is a common cause of dizziness or headache; however, it was not clearly defined until 2018. Its diagnosis mainly relies on clinical history, including vertigo and migraine, as indicated by the appendix of the 3rd edition of the International Classification Diagnostic Criteria for Headache Diseases. There is often an overlap of vertigo and migraine across vestibular diseases; therefore, VM often imitates various vestibular diseases. Additionally, VM lacks specific laboratory biomarkers; therefore, it has high misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis rates. Therefore, numerous clinical patients could have inaccurate diagnoses and improper treatment. Therefore, there is a need for further basic research to further clarify the pathogenesis. Moreover, there is a need for clinical trials focusing on specific laboratory biomarkers, including serological, radiological, and electrophysiological examinations, to develop more detailed and complete diagnostic criteria.

Keywords: Chameleon; Migraine; Vertigo; Vestibular migraine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Vertigo / diagnosis
  • Vertigo / etiology
  • Vestibular Diseases* / diagnosis