[The influence of corticosteroids on the frequency of vestibular crises]

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the dynamics of the hormonal status of the adrenal glands in the patients suffering from Menière's disease in its different clinical forms. We examined a total of 26 patients at the age from 29 to 47 years presenting with this condition. All the patients were divided into two groups depending on the character of the disease. Group 1 was comprised of 20 patients experiencing the crises from 2 to 6 times during a year. Group 2 was composed of six patients in whom the crises occurred with a frequency of 2-4 times per week within at least two weeks. The serum levels of cortisol and aldosterone were measured both during the crises and between them with the use of the proper immunoenzyme assays. The control group was formed of 20 practically healthy volunteers. It was shown that the blood cortisol level during a fit of dizziness in the patients of group 1 increased in comparison with that in the control subjects (798.7±71.2 nmol/l and 453.68±49.39 nmol/l respectively; p<0.05). The patients having recurrent crises (group 2) experienced a significant decrease in the blood cortisol levels down to 293.5±38.1 nmol/l during a crisis in comparison with the control subjects (453.68±49.39 nmol/l; p<0.05). During the inter-crisis periods , the blood cortisol level in the patients of the first group remained within normal bounds whereas in the patients of the second group its mean value was 18.7% lower (p>0.05). The serum aldosterone level in the patients of the first group was not significantly different from that in the second group both during crises and in the periods of remission. It is concluded that the results of the study provide the data for the pathogenetic substantiation of the possibility for the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of the patients suffering from frequent crisis of Menière's disease.