The clinical significance of fHIT in migraine patient without vertigo symptom.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the functional head impulse test on migraine patients without vertigo. fHIT is a new vestibular test which evaluates the ability to see and read clearly during head movement as a functional measurement of the vestibulo-ocular reflex.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study included 20 patients suffering from migraine without vertigo between the ages of 20 and 30-years-old who were diagnosed by a neurologist and 20 individuals with non-migraine headaches (control group), with similar demographic characteristics. The functional head impulse test was applied to both groups, and the migraine disability assessment test was applied to migraine patients.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in the general fHIT results between the migraine group and the control group (p > 0.05). However, a statistically significant decrease was obtained in migraine patients in the left lateral (p = 0.018) and right posterior (p = 0.029) semicircular canals at 4000 Hz and the right anterior semicircular canal at 6000 Hz (p = 0.019). When compared by the degree of migraine disability assessment test, no significant difference in the fHIT results were observed (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The semicircular canals may be affected at high head acceleration (4000-6000 Hz) in migraine patients without a history of vertigo. It should be considered that fHIT results between 4000 and 6000 Hz in migraine patients without vertigo can be pathologic.