[Application of electronystagmography glycerine test for diagnosing Ménière's disease]

To evaluate electronystagmography (ENG) glycerine test (GT) for diagnosing Ménière's disease (MD), ENG GT were performed in 44 patients (48 ears) with MD and 20 normal subjects (40 ears). In normal subjects, the increase or decrease in percentage of maximum velocity of caloric nystagmus were calculated before and 1, 2, 3 hours after administration of glycerin (1.5 g/kg). According to the statistical analysis, 95% of normal subjects fell below +15% at 44 degrees C and +10% at 30 degrees C, therefore the value of +15% at 44 degrees C and +10% at 30 degrees C were taken as the upper limit of normal range. Increase in maximum velocity of caloric nystagmus beyond the normal range was referred to as positive. In the patients with MD, positive reaction were observed in 86.7% of typical MD, 77.8% of vestibular type MD. The rate of positive response was much higher in stage of attack of hydrolabyrinth than that of remission. The results indicated that this test is another diagnostic method for patient with MD and is particularly suited for diagnosing vestibular type of atypical MD.