Treatment of Stapedial Myoclonus as a Migraine-Related Phenomenon

Abstract

Objective To describe a case series of patients with stapedial myoclonus (SM) whose conditions improved after prophylactic migraine treatment. Patients We present seven cases of SM reported from a tertiary care neurotology clinic. All seven patients reported SM triggers similar to those of migraine headaches and suffered from concomitant headaches and/or vertigo, and were thus treated with a standard migraine protocol used at this neurotology clinic. Intervention Prophylactic migraine treatment. Main Outcome Measures Reduction or resolution of SM. Results In this series, seven patients with SM were included. Six of seven subjects were male (86%), with a mean age at presentation of 44 years. Four patients noted significant improvement in their symptoms, with a reduced frequency, duration, and intensity of their symptoms with the migraine regimen. Three patients experienced complete resolution of SM with their migraine treatment. Conclusion We report that treatment with prophylactic migraine treatment can provide long-term relief for patients with SM, which may suggest an etiological association between migraine and SM as well as a possible treatment for SM.