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Menière's disease: etiology and natural history
Acta Oto-Laryngologica
|March 1, 1979
Abstract:
Fifty-three carefully selected patients with Menière's disease were studied. Unlike Pulec, who describes a specific etiology in Menière's disease in 48% of the cases, we found no specific etiology in this study, except in one case (syphilis). The sequence of the development of the symptoms showed marked individual differences. In 16 patients, cochlear and vestibular symptoms started at the same time. In 26 patients the vestibular symptoms started after the cochlear symptoms and in 11 patients the reverse occurred. The meaning of these findings for the mechanism of the Menière attack is discussed.
Insights
This study found no specific cause for Menière
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neurology
Background:
- Menière's disease is a complex inner ear disorder.
- Etiology of Menière's disease remains incompletely understood.
- Previous research suggested specific etiologies in a significant portion of cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiology of Menière's disease in a selected patient cohort.
- To analyze the temporal sequence of cochlear and vestibular symptom onset.
- To discuss the implications for Menière's disease attack mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 53 Menière's disease patients.
- Assessment for specific etiological factors.
- Documentation of symptom onset sequence (cochlear vs. vestibular).
Main Results:
- No specific etiology identified in 52 out of 53 patients (98%).
- Syphilis identified as the sole specific etiology in one case.
- Varied symptom onset sequences observed: 16 simultaneous, 26 vestibular after cochlear, 11 cochlear after vestibular.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge previous reports on specific etiologies in Menière's disease.
- Significant individual variability exists in symptom progression.
- Understanding symptom onset patterns may offer insights into Menière's disease pathophysiology.