Meniérè's disease is a clinical syndrome that consists of four symptoms:
As emphasized above, more important than the presence of these 4 symptoms in a single patient, is the pattern in which they occur. Many patients with ear problems will have one or all of these symptoms at some point. Patients with Meniérè's will have all of them (or at least 2-3 of them) come on together in distinct episodes.
Meniérè's attacks are usually very distinct. Patients with Meniérè's disease will typically remember the first attack they had, and can catalogue each of the distinct episodes as they occur. This differs from many other types of vertigo and balance disorders in which the symptoms are more vague and the episodes less distinct. In between the episodes, most Meniérè's patients feel well, though they can have significant disability from the uncertainty of when the next attack will come on.
What causes Meniérè's disease?
The root cause of Meniérè's disease is unknown, though the symptoms are thought to be produced by an increase in the fluid pressure in the inner ear, i.e "endolymphatic hydrops." In all likelihood, a variety of insults to the ear can lead to endolymphatic hydrops as their common final pathway, thereby producing symptoms akin to those of Meniérè's disease. When the inciting cause of hydropic symptoms is identified, then the proper descriptor is Meniérè's syndrome or delayed endolymphatic hydrops. When the symptoms develop spontaneously, with no identifiable cause, it is termed Meniérè's disease.
What is the natural history of Meniérè’s disease?
At least half of all patients with newly diagnosed Meniérè's disease will have remission of their symptoms in the first few years. There is some evidence suggesting that prompt initiation of treatment can prevent progression to a more long-term course. When the disease persists, progressive inner ear damage results in worsening hearing in the affected ear, but a decrease in the frequency and severity of vertigo attacks. Tumarkin crises (drop-attacks) may ensue in the end-stages of the disease, and are an indication for prompt intervention to prevent serious injury.
What is the treatment for Meniérè's disease?
The mainstay of treatment is directed towards attempts to decrease the fluid pressure in the inner ear. This is done by aggressive salt-restriction, sometimes in combination with a diuretic ("water pill"). A diuretic alone will not overcome the inner ear's ability to retain salt, so this medication should be reserved for patients in whom salt-restriction alone is insufficient. It is important not to decrease salt intake too much, as sodium is an essential mineral for the body to function. However, in practice this is not too much of a concern since most people find any sodium restriction to be a greater challenge than over-restriction. The goal is to reduce your daily sodium intake to 1500-2000 milligrams. This involves more than not sprinkling salt on your food. It requires diligence in precisely measuring your sodium intake from all sources by inspecting package labels and kitchen habits. Restaurant eating must usually be limited since it is difficult to accurately quantify sodium intake in that setting, and the foods are typically highly salted.
Some guidelines for maintaining a low-salt diet are as follows:
Table: Guidelines for a low-salt diet
| Food Group | High-salt foods to avoid | Low-salt foods to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy | Buttermilk; Cocoa mix; Processed cheeses | Skim or low-fat milk; Low-fat yogurt; Low-sodium cheeses |
| Meat | Canned, salted or smoked meats and fish; oil-packed tuna; bacon; ham; bologna; salami; cold cuts; frankfurters; corned beef; canned hash or stew | Lean meats; poultry; fish; water-packed tuna |
| Vegetables | Regular canned vegetables and vegetable juices; canned soups; olives; pickles; sauerkraut | Fresh, frozen or low-sodium canned vegetables and juices; low-salt soups |
| Bread | Salted crackers; pizza; baked goods prepared with salt; baking soda; some cereals and convenience mixes | Whole-grain or enriched breads and cereals; low-salt crackers and bread sticks |
| Snacks | Potato and other chips; pretzels; salted nuts and snack mixes | Unsalted popcorn; fresh or dried fruit |
| Other | Ketchup; prepared mustard; soy sauce; MSG; bouillon cubes; meat sauces; some antacid medications; commercial salad dressings; frozen, ready-made entrees; fast food meals | Salad bars; Plainer selections |
During the severe, episodic attacks medications may be used to suppress the vertigo and nausea. Diazepam (Valium) works well. Another oral drug that is commonly used is meclizine (Antivert). Both of these are sedating. One problem with these medications for an acute attack is that if nausea is severe they can be impossible to keep it down. In this circumstance antihistamine suppositories such as promethazine (Phenergan) are very useful. It is important to reserve these vestibular suppressants for the acute attacks of vertigo. When used long-term they impair the body's ability to recover from inner ear injuries, and can produce chronic imbalance.
When medical therapy fails to control the vertigo associated with Meniérè's disease, surgical intervention should be considered. Surgical options should be divided into those that preserve residual hearing in the affected ear, and those that destroy it. The latter are typically more reliable in their ability to control vertigo, but should only be undertaken if the residual hearing is minimal or not useful, and if the other ear has useful hearing and is not expected to become more severely affected. There are many other considerations that go into choosing what type of procedure is best for each person. Some of the more commonly performed procedures are: chemical perfusion of the inner ear ("Gentamicin injection;" this can be performed in the office and is easily repeated if need be), endolymphatic sac surgery, vestibular nerve section and transmastoid labyrinthectomy. The pros and cons of each of these procedures should be discussed in detail with the physician, who will perform the treatment so as to choose the option that is best for each individual.
Table: Comparison of procedures commonly used to control vertigo
| Control of vertigo | Risk of hearing loss | Office procedure | Risk of other complications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical perfusion | Very good (may need to be repeated for optimal control) | Moderate | Yes | Minimal |
| Endolymphatic sac surgery | Uncertain- fair | Minimal | No | Minimal |
| Vestibular nerve section | Excellent | Moderate | No | Moderate |
| Transmastoid Labyrinthectomy | Excellent | 100% | No | Minimal |
|
Email this Page
Print this Page © 2008 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System, 22 S. Greene
Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. 1.800.492.5538 TDD: 1.800.735.2258
Physician Referral: 1.800.373.4111
