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[Two cases of Meniere's disease with drop attacks]
Fumiyuki Goto1, Takanobu Kunihiro, Yasutomo Araki
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hino Municipal Hospital, Tokyo.
Nihon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho
|April 15, 2005
Summary
Drop attacks, sudden falls without vertigo, can occur in Meniere's disease. Treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce attack frequency in some patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Drop attacks are sudden falls with unknown causes, often linked to various neurological and vestibular conditions.
- Meniere's disease, a vestibular disorder, can manifest with drop attacks, distinct from typical vertigo episodes.
Observation:
- Two Meniere's disease patients experienced drop attacks, with one having four and the other twenty within two years.
- One patient achieved spontaneous remission, while the other's attacks decreased with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment.
Findings:
- Vestibular-based drop attacks without loss of consciousness are a potential symptom of Meniere's disease.
- Anxiety may be a predisposing factor, and otolith organ understimulation could trigger vestibulo-spinal reflexes causing falls.
Implications:
- Accurate diagnosis requires identifying sudden falls and ruling out transient ischemic attacks.
- These findings highlight the varied presentation of Meniere's disease and potential therapeutic avenues for drop attacks.