VISUAL-EVOKED POTENTIALS - A DIAGNOSTIC-TEST FOR MIGRAINE HEADACHE INCHILDREN

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were performed in a blind fashion in 1 14 children aged 3 to lr years with different types of headaches, in o rder to investigate whether this could be helpful in the diagnosis of migraine versus other types of headaches in children, The studs showed that the amplitude between P-100 and N-2 was significantly larger in children with migraine headaches (mean 19.8 mu vol, SD 7.75) compared with other types of headaches (mean 13.1 mu vol, SD 7.45). These resul ts suggest that the sensitivity of VEP P-100 amplitude to distinguish migraine headaches in children is 67%, the specificity of VEP is 83%, and the predictive positive value is 83%, VEP study might be helpful i n workup of a child with headache, particularly a young child, when si gns and symptoms mag not be characteristic.