Onset Type of Meniere's Disease

Abstract

Meniere's disease is represented by episodic vertigo (vestibular symptom), tinnitis and hearing loss (cochlear symptom). It is possible to devide patients with Meniere's disease into three groups; those with cochlear and vestibular symptoms starting at the same time, and those with the vestibular symptoms starting before or after cochlear symptoms: In this presentation, we studied the clinical differences of these three groups. The following results were obtained. 1. In the case of cochlear Meniere's disease, the cochlear symptom is slight and it is easy to acquire the vestibular symptom. The cause of cochlear Meniere's disease was considered to be the existence of endolymphatic hydrops. Compared with frequency of bilateral Meniere's disease, bilateral cochlear Meniere's disease was more found. 2. In the case of vestibular Meniere's disease, the vestibular symptom is slight and it is difficult to acquire the cochlear symptom. The cause of vestibular Meniere's disease, in all cases was not considered to be the existence of endolymphatic hydrops. 3. In the case of Meniere's disease with vestibular symptoms starting after the cochlear symptoms, both the vestibular symptoms and cochlear symptoms are heavy. In the case of Meniere's disease with vestibular symptoms starting before the cochlear symptoms, both symptoms are slight. © 1981, The Society of Practical Otolaryngology. All rights reserved.