Migraine and benign positional vertigo

Because inner ear symptoms are common in patients with migraine, we questio ned whether benign positional vertigo (BPV) is mon common in patients with migraine than in the general population. We reviewed the records of 247 pat ients seen in our neurotology clinic over the past 5 years with a confirmed diagnosis of BPV. Each patient had the typical history of BPV, and in each case the characteristic torsional vertical positioning nystagmus was ident ified. All were interviewed regarding migraine symptoms by means of standar d International Headache Society criteria. Migraine was 3 times more common in patients with BPV of unknown cause than in those with BPV secondary to trauma or surgical procedures. Most patients were cured with the particle r epositioning maneuver, regardless of the cause. Presumably, patients with m igraine suffer recurrent damage to the inner ear (due to vasospasm or some other mechanism) that predisposes them to recurrent bouts of BPV.