Saccular functions differ for Meniere's disease with and without coexisting headaches.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Vestibular System

Background:

• Meniere's disease (MD) is a disorder of the inner ear.
• Headaches, particularly migraine, can coexist with MD.
• Understanding the differences between MD with and without headaches is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical characteristics and vestibular functions of Meniere's disease patients with and without headaches.
• To investigate the impact of coexisting headaches on MD presentation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records, caloric tests, and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) in 35 MD patients.
• Patients were divided into two groups: MD without headaches (MD/H-) and MD with headaches (MD/H+).
• cVEMP assessed saccular function via asymmetry ratio; caloric tests evaluated semicircular canal function.

Main Results:

• MD/H+ group had more females and higher frequencies of vertigo and DHI scores compared to MD/H-.
• No significant difference in age, illness duration, hearing levels, or caloric test results between groups.
• Saccular dysfunction, indicated by abnormal cVEMP, was significantly more prevalent in the MD/H+ group (p=0.018).

Conclusions:

• Meniere's disease presentation differs based on headache presence.
• MD without headaches shows a male predominance.
• Coexisting headaches in MD are associated with more severe saccular dysfunction, suggesting headache influences vestibular manifestations.