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The Interconnections of Mal de Débarquement Syndrome and Vestibular Migraine
Author(s) -
Beh Shin C.,
Chiang HsuehSheng,
Sanderson Collin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.29214
Subject(s) - medicine , migraine , ictal , epilepsy , psychiatry
Objectives/Hypothesis Mal de débarquement syndrome (MDDS) is characterized by a persistent rocking sensation, as though on a boat. It may occur following exposure to passive motion (motion‐triggered MDDS [MT‐MDDS]), or spontaneously (spontaneous‐onset MDDS [SO‐MDDS]). This study investigated the characteristics of MDDS patients with vestibular migraine (MDDS‐VM) to those without (MDDS‐O). Study Design Retrospective review. Methods Retrospective, single‐center study of 62 patients with MDDS. Clinical characteristics, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS), job impact, and optimal treatment(s) were studied. Results There were 23 MDDS‐O (19 women), and 39 MDDS‐VM (35 women) patients. Comparisons between MDDS‐VM and MDDS‐O showed significant differences in age of onset (41 vs. 52 years, P = .005), interictal visually induced dizziness (89.7% vs. 30.4%, P < .001), interictal head motion‐induced dizziness (87.2% vs. 47.8%, P = .001), other vestibular sensations (59% vs. 13%, P < .001), interictal aural symptoms (25.6% vs. 0%, P = .008), number of interictal symptoms (4.3 vs. 2.3, P < .001), total DHI score (54.9 vs. 38.1, P = .005), DHI‐P (physical domain) score (16.1 vs. 10, P = .004), DHI‐F (functional domain) score (20.9 vs. 15.7, P = .016 MIDAS (4.6 vs. 32, P = .002), and job resignations (23.2% vs. 5%, P = .016). On the other hand, between‐group comparisons for MT‐MDDS and SO‐MDDS did not reveal any significant differences whatsoever. For optimal treatment, venlafaxine was the most used (27.3%) in all groups. For MDDS‐VM, antiepileptic drugs and migraine preventive vitamins were also useful in relieving symptoms. Conclusions MDDS‐VM patients appear to be more disabled than MDDS‐O, in terms of severity of dizziness, job impact, and number of symptoms, but have good potential for improvement, particularly with migraine prophylactic treatment. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope , 131:E1653–E1661, 2021