Intravenous nitroglycerin (NTG) is a well-established model for provoking migraine attacks, but it has not previously been used to characterize vestibular migraine (VM). Different types of nystagmus have been reported during spontaneous VM attacks. We aimed to measure changes in nystagmus during NTG-induced migraine in participants with VM.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
The nitroglycerin provocation model characterises measurable vestibular and ocular motor deficits during vestibular migraine attacks, which may refine diagnostic criteria and inform targeted rehabilitation strategies for clinicians managing dizzy patients.
A reliable laboratory model for triggering vestibular migraine attacks could accelerate development of objective diagnostic biomarkers and future treatments for this frequently under-diagnosed condition.
- 01Intravenous nitroglycerin was used to experimentally trigger vestibular migraine attacks.
- 02Visual, vestibular, and ocular motor (eye movement) changes were systematically characterised during attacks.
- 03Provides an objective, controlled model for studying vestibular migraine pathophysiology.
- 04Findings may help identify measurable biomarkers for a condition that is often diagnosed clinically.
- 05Published in Headache (2026).
Intravenous nitroglycerin reliably triggers vestibular migraine attacks in a controlled experimental setting.
studysupportedVestibular migraine attacks are associated with measurable changes in visual, vestibular, and ocular motor function.
studysupported- PMID
- 42698392
- DOI
- 10.1111/head.70194.
- Journal
- Headache
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Patients with vestibular migraine
- Intervention
- Intravenous nitroglycerin as a vestibular migraine provocation model
Primary outcomes
Visual changes during nitroglycerin-triggered vestibular migraine attacks; Vestibular function changes during triggered attacks; Ocular motor changes during triggered attacks