Evaluation of Vestibular Functions in a Case of Vestibular Migraine With Successful Treatment With Erenumab

Ear Nose Throat J. 2023 Sep 25:1455613231202200. doi: 10.1177/01455613231202200. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

This is the first report of vestibular examinations before and after the successful treatment of vestibular migraine (VM), a common cause of recurrent vertigo, with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor inhibitor. We evaluated a 42-year-old female with VM and concomitant probable Meniere's disease, whose headache and dizziness have improved promptly with the administration of erenumab, a CGRP receptor inhibitor. The sensorineural hearing loss in pure-tone audiometry, dysfunctions shown in vestibular examinations (cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials), and mild endolymphatic hydrops shown in gadolinium-enhanced inner ear magnetic resonance imaging, all in the right ear, revealed no change compared with those observed before treatment. This case suggests that VM may be treated by blocking CGRP in the trigeminal ganglion, which suppresses the effects on the vestibular nucleus; herein, no effects were observed in the inner ear despite the clear amelioration of dizziness.

Keywords: calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor inhibitor; dizziness; pathophysiology; vestibular examinations; vestibular migraine.