Current status on researches of Meniere's disease: a review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurology
• Inner Ear Disorders

Background:

• Meniere's disease (MD) is a complex inner ear condition with an unclear etiology.
• Despite diagnostic and therapeutic advancements, a complete cure for MD is not yet possible.
• Research continues to explore the multifactorial nature of Meniere's disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review updated research findings on Meniere's disease over recent decades.
• To highlight advancements in the diagnosis and management of MD.
• To identify areas requiring further investigation in Meniere's disease.

Main Methods:

• Critical review of recent scientific publications on Meniere's disease.
• Analysis of research on the relationship between endolymphatic hydrops and MD symptoms.
• Examination of diagnostic techniques, including inner ear MRI for endolymphatic hydrops visualization.

Main Results:

• The precise relationship between endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and Meniere's symptoms warrants further investigation.
• In vivo visualization of EH using specialized inner ear MRI sequences is now achievable.
• EH can be present in both symptomatic and asymptomatic ears of MD patients, suggesting potential diagnostic value.

Conclusions:

• No significant breakthroughs in Meniere's disease pathogenesis have occurred recently.
• In vivo EH visualization represents a substantial potential improvement for MD diagnosis.
• Effective clinical strategies to halt disease progression in Meniere's disease remain limited.