[The clinical characteristics and vestibular aqueduct morphology of Meniere's disease with or without migraine].

Objective

To analyze and compare the clinical characteristics and vestibular aqueduct morphology, as indicated by the angular trajectory of the vestibular aqueduct (ATVA), in patients with Meniere's disease (MD) with and without comorbid migraine.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 92 patients diagnosed with MD at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023, who had available temporal bone CT images. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of migraine. Data on demographics, MD-related clinical features, and migraine history were collected. The ATVA was measured on temporal bone CT scans, with ATVA<120°suggesting endolymphatic sac degeneration and ATVA>140° suggesting endolymphatic sac hypoplasia. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 to compare clinical characteristics and ATVA subtypes between the groups.

Results

Among the 92 MD patients (46 males, 46 females), 52 had comorbid migraine and 40 did not. Compared to MD patients without migraine, those with migraine had a higher proportion of females, a longer disease duration, and more frequent vertigo attacks (all P<0.05). The proportion of patients with an ATVA<120° was significantly higher in the migraine group (84.6%, 44/52) than in the non-migraine group (25.0%, 10/40) (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified ATVA<120° as an independent risk factor for MD with migraine (P=0.011).

Conclusions

The clinical characteristics and vestibular aqueduct morphology differ between MD patients with and without migraine. A significant association exists between endolymphatic sac degeneration (indicated by ATVA<120°) and MD comorbid with migraine.