Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42866383›Full record

ArticleCureus2026

Beat-to-Beat Nystagmus Differentiation Between Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and Vestibular Migraine (VM): A Cross-Sectional Videonystagmographic Study From Northern India.

Pratishtha Sachan, Srinivas Dorasala, Utkarsh Bansal, Abhishek Gupta, Mili Sengar, Vivek Verma, Beena Sachan

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Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Pratishtha SachanOtolaryngology, Pravigya Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) and Vertigo Clinic, Lucknow, IND.
Srinivas DorasalaOtolaryngology, Yenepoya University, Mangalore, IND.
Utkarsh BansalPediatrics, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki, IND.
Abhishek GuptaCommunity Medicine, Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, IND.
Mili SengarCommunity Medicine, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, IND.
Vivek VermaOtolaryngology, Pravigya Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) and Vertigo Clinic, Lucknow, IND.
Beena SachanCommunity Medicine, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, IND.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and vestibular migraine (VM) are among the most common causes of vertigo encountered in clinical practice. Both conditions can present with similar symptoms, such as dizziness and positional vertigo, yet their underlying mechanisms and management differ significantly. Misdiagnosis can lead to ineffective or inappropriate treatment. Objective This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of beat-to-beat positional nystagmus in patients with BPPV and VM using videonystagmography (VNG) and to identify distinguishing features of nystagmus that facilitate accurate diagnosis and treatment. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Lucknow, India. Of 343 patients screened for positional vertigo, 110 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups based on clinical and diagnostic criteria: BPPV (n=57) and VM (n=53). All patients underwent a comprehensive vestibular assessment using VNG, with specific attention to slow-phase velocity (SPV), amplitude, direction, and duration of nystagmus during various positional tests. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and t-tests. Results The study revealed distinct differences in nystagmus characteristics between patients with BPPV and VM. Patients with BPPV demonstrated a characteristic crescendo-decrescendo pattern in SPV, indicating a mechanical etiology linked to canalith kinetics. In contrast, patients with VM showed a higher initial SPV with a more sustained, constant pattern of nystagmus, suggestive of central vestibular hyperexcitability. Peak nystagmus amplitude and SPV were significantly higher in BPPV (mean peak amplitude: 11.55° vs. 5.64°, p=0.02; mean peak SPV: 21.16°/s vs. 13.10°/s, p=0.005). Positional testing demonstrated distinct patterns between the two groups. The Dix-Hallpike (DH) and supine head-hanging (head extension) positions were more frequently positive in patients with BPPV, whereas the pitch-forward (head flexion) position more frequently elicited nystagmus in patients with VM. Conclusion VNG-based assessment of beat-to-beat nystagmus characteristics can be a supportive, objective method for differentiating BPPV from VM in difficult cases. Accurate differentiation is crucial for guiding appropriate therapeutic strategies, including repositioning maneuvers for BPPV and migraine prophylaxis for VM.

Indexed as

crescendo-decrescendo patterndiagnostic differentiationdizzinessmigraine prophylaxispositional nystagmuspositional vertigorepositioning maneuversslow phase velocityvestibular migrainevideonystagmography

Identifiers

PMID42866383
PMCPMC13657663

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.