Old theme and new reflections: hearing impairment associated with endolymphatic hydrops

The cause(s) of the hearing impairment associated with Menière's disease are not understood but are undoubtedly associated with the inner ear endolymphatic hydrops. Two major hypotheses have been proposed and widely received: endolymphatic overpressure followed by leaky membranes and subsequently the mixing of high K+ endolymph with perilymph. Our recent data on an experimental model of endolymphatic hydrops have provided grounds for renewed reflections on the pathology. Indeed our data might be interpreted without involving either of the above hypotheses and suggests that the symptoms of Menière's disease might be accounted for by a flow of perilymph from scala vestibuli towards scala tympani with the mixing of the two perilymphs which are similar but not identical in composition. The higher K+ concentration arriving from the scala vestibuli into the scala tympani at the apex of the cochlea via the helicotrema is likely to be toxic to hair cell and auditory nerve fiber function. The mixing of the two perilymphs could result in deterioration of low frequency sensitivity, provoke low frequency tinnitus and in the long term cause spiral ganglion cell degeneration at the apex of the cochlea. The feeling of fullness in the ear might be the result of the decreasing perilymph volume in the scala vestibuli which could give rise to inner ear conductive losses. The patency of the cochlear aqueduct might play a role in determining the high risk group of individuals likely to manifest the symptoms of endolymphatic hydrops.