Abstract:ObjectiveTo investigate the value of vestibular autorotation test (VAT) for assessing vestibular function in patients with vestibular migraine (VM).MethodsVAT was performed with 26 patients suffering from vestibular migraine (VM group) and 20 normal subjects (control group). Parameters analyzed in this study included horizontal gain, horizontal phase, vertical gain, vertical phase and asymmetry. That any of the abovementioned five parameters was abnormal could be defined as abnormal VAT.Results21(80.77%) patients in the VM group were abnormal and 2(10%) in the control group were abnormal. The difference of detection rate of abnormal vestibular function between both groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). In the VM group, gain was found to be abnormal in 18(69.23%) patients including 12 with increased gain in horizontal testing, 4 with increased gain in vertical testing, one with decreased gain in horizontal testing, 2 cases with partly increased and partly decreased gains in horizontal testing. Phase delay was observed in 16 patients (61.54%), including 13 cases with lagged phase in horizontal testing and 5 cases in vertical testing. The abnormal asymmetry was detected in 3(11.54%) patients and the right side was weak, suggesting asymmetry of bilateral vestibular function. The abnormal gains were given priority to frequencies ranged from 2.0 Hz to 2.7 Hz. The lagged phases were given priority to frequencies ranged from 3.5 Hz to 5.9 Hz.ConclusionVAT is mainly characterized by high gains and lagged phases in patients with VM. Of them, the horizontal tests are more sensitive. VAT can effectively evaluate vestibular function in patients with VM and provide valuable reference to the diagnosis.