Efficacy of Intratympanic Gentamicin in Menière's Disease With and Without Migraine.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of intratympanic gentamicin injection (ITG) on vertigo control, drop attacks, and functional level in Menière's disease patients with and without a history of migraine.

PATIENTS: Menière's disease patients (patients with migraine and age- and sex-matched control patients without migraine) treated from 2002 to 2012 who failed medical management and received ITG, with a minimum 2-year follow up.

INTERVENTION: ITG.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vertigo control, drop attack prevalence, and change in functional level.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight Menière's disease patients were included in this study (14 with migraine and 14 matched patients without migraine). There were three men and 11 women in each groups, with a mean age of 53 ± 8.9 years. Baseline characteristics (Menière's stage, vertigo frequency, drop attack prevalence, and functional level) before ITG were not significantly different between the two groups. Two years after ITG, 71% of Menière's disease with migraine patients and 78% of Menière's disease without migraine patients had class A, B, or C vertigo control (p > 0.999). Change in prevalence of drop attacks (43-7% versus 50-0%, respectively) was also similar (p > 0.999). However, significantly fewer vertigo control class A, B, and C migraine patients achieved functional level 1 or 2 (40%) compared with non-migraine patients (91%) (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Although ITG appears equally effective in treating vertigo and drop attacks in Menière's disease with and without migraine, patients with migraine derive significantly less benefit in terms of functional improvement.