Restriction of salt, alcohol and coffee intake and Ménière's disease: insight from Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Restricting salt, caffeine, and alcohol intake is commonly recommended as a first-line treatment for patients with Ménière's disease (MD). However, it remains unclear whether these interventions effectively improve symptoms of MD. Therefore, we conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the relationship between these dietary modifications and MD. Methods: Summary statistics for salt added to food, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, and MD were sourced from the United Kingdom Biobank, GSCAN, and the FinnGen study, involving up to 941,280 participants. The main analyses were performed using the random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach and were complemented by four additional methods. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to validate the findings, and both forward and reverse MR analyses were employed to address potential reverse causality bias. Results: The primary MR results using the IVW method revealed that salt added to food (OR = 0.719, 95% CI: 0.429-1.206; p = 0.211), alcohol consumption (OR = 0.834, 95% CI: 0.427-1.628; p = 0.595), and coffee consumption (OR = 0.852, 95% CI: 0.555-1.306; p = 0.461) were not significantly correlated with MD. In reverse analysis, no evidence of significant effect was found from MD to salt added to food (OR = 1.000, 95% CI: 0.993-1.007; p = 0.957), alcohol consumption (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.987-1.008; p = 0.682), and coffee consumption (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.985-1.011; p = 0.72). Conclusion: This MR analysis did not identify convincing evidence to support the idea that restricting salt, caffeine, and alcohol intake is beneficial for the treatment of MD.

Evaluating vertebrobasilar insufficiency and Meniere's disease: Insights from cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential and video head impulse test.

Background and purpose:

This prospective study aimed to investigate diffe-rences in video head impulse test (vHIT) and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic poten-tial (cVEMP) findings between patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) and Meniere’s disease (MD) who experience episodic vertigo attacks.

A total of 27 patients with VBI and 37 patients with MD were enrolled into the study in a tertiary referral center. Inclusion criteria consisted of patients with a minimum of two previous vertigo attacks, unaccompanied by any neurological symptoms during an attack. All patients underwent horizontal canal h-vHIT and c-VEMP assessments following pure sound audiometric examinations. First, vHIT and cVEMP results for low and high flow sides in VBI patients were analyzed. Subsequently, data from the low-flow side in VBI patients and the affected side in MD patients were compared.

The mean vHIT values for low and high-flow volume sides in VBI patients were 0.68 and 0.88, respectively. In MD patients, mean vHIT values for affected and healthy sides were measured as 0.77 and 0.87, respectively. Abnormal results were observed in 66.7% of VBI patients and 51.4% of MD patients, with no statistically significant difference between the findings (p> 0.05). Upon examining the affected side, c-VEMP responses were absent in 41% of MD patients and 48% of VBI patients, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p> 0.05).

vHIT and cVEMP assessments can be utilized as supplementary tools to radiologic investigations for the clinical diagnosis and follow-up of VBI. However, no significant differences were observed between vHIT and cVEMP findings in patients with MD and VBI.

A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Intratympanic Gentamicin with Methylprednisolone in Meniere's Disease with Good Hearing.

A randomized prospective parallel group trial was done to compare the efficacy of intratympanic low dose gentamicin with methylprednisolone in treating intractable unilateral Meniere's disease with serviceable hearing. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised prospective parallel group trial. SETTING: Tertiary care centre in South India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with unilateral Meniere's disease and serviceable hearing with vertigo following 6 months of conservative therapy were enrolled between November 2018 and March 2020. Twenty patients were administered with one dose of intratympanic Gentamicin (40 mg/ml) and the other half were given intratympanic Methylprednisolone (40 mg/ml, 4 injections given on alternate days). Pure tone audiogram, speech discrimination score, number of vertigo episodes, dizziness handicap inventory, tinnitus handicap inventory and functional scores were compared before treatment, 3 months later and up to 24 months. There was no significant difference between the two treatments with regard to short term as well as long term DHI scores, THI scores, Functional level score and average pure tone audiogram of patients. In patients with unilateral Meniere's disease who have good hearing, one dose of Gentamicin had equivalent effect to that of four doses of Methylprednisolone in vertigo and tinnitus control, hearing preservation and quality of life.

Correlation between vestibular response to caloric stimulation and cochlear function in Ménière's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between caloric testing response patterns with respect to cochlear impairment in individuals with unilateral Ménière's disease. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study, the factor under study was Ménière's disease and the outcome was cochleovestibular function, evaluated through caloric stimulation using videonystagmography and four-frequency averages in pure tone audiometry. RESULTS: A total of 187 patients (equal sex distribution) who met the inclusion criteria were included. In impairment analysis of the affected ear, 17 patients had only vestibular impairment, 56 had only cochlear impairment, and 114 had cochleovestibular impairment. The distribution of Ménière's disease stages according to four-frequency average was grade I: 23.53%, grade II: 16.04%, grade III: 42.25%, and grade IV: 18.18%. There was a significant association (p < 0.001) between the affected ear and labyrinthine preponderance. The Spearman correlation between four-frequency average and labyrinth preponderance (r = 0.326) indicated a moderate correlation, considering p < 0.01. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the greater the cochlear damage due to Ménière's disease, the more impaired the vestibular function in the affected ear. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2 - Individual cross-sectional studies with consistently applied reference standard and blinding.

"PRACTICAL IMAGING FOR MÉNIÈRE'S DISEASE".

Ménière's disease (MD) is a chronic disorder of the inner ear characterized by vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness. The pathophysiology of Ménière's disease involves endolymphatic hydrops (EH), an abnormal accumulation of endolymph fluid, although the exact cause remains unclear, potentially involving genetic, environmental, and autoimmune factors. Recent advancements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have significantly enhanced diagnostic capabilities. This technique uses gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) to differentiate between endolymph and perilymph. Imaging techniques such as 3D-FLAIR and 3D-real-IR sequences are used to classify EH into grades based on the severity of dilation in the cochlea and vestibule. The degree of perilymphatic enhancement (PE), indicative of blood-labyrinthine barrier breakdown, further aids in diagnosing Ménière's disease. Accurate diagnosis relies on distinguishing between perilymphatic and endolymphatic enhancement patterns and recognizing mimicking conditions.

The clinical manifestation and treatment of Meniere's Disease from the viewpoint of the water homeostasis of the inner ear.

Endolymphatic hydrops, a pathological feature of Ménière's disease, has been experimentally and clinically confirmed to be influenced by the blood circulation of vasopressin (VP). VP is a well-known hormonal regulator of water homeostasis. In addition, VP is influenced by various environmental changes, dehydration, fluctuation of atmospheric pressure, pregnancy, and other factors. Furthermore, VP is a key regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is a major neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to emotional and physical stresses, as well as the sleep/wake cycle (circadian rhythm). Therefore, VP is susceptible to change via the HPA axis. This review considers possible mechanisms of the formation of endolymphatic hydrops from the perspective of the vasopressin-aquaporin 2 system.

The relationship between dizziness and sleep: a review of the literature.

Background: The relation between vestibular disorders and (quality of) sleep is underexplored scientifically and the complex interactions between vestibular and sleep disorders are far from being well understood. Some studies have been conducted on the association between patients with vestibular disorders and (the occurrence of) sleep disorders, other studies have been published on the prevalence of dizziness complaints in patients with sleep disorders. The quality of sleep in patients with vestibular disorders generally receives little attention in clinical practice. Objective: To establish what is currently known about the mutual relationship between dizziness and sleep, and to assess whether or not there is evidence of causality with regard to this relationship. Methods: After systematically searching four literature database up until 1 April 2024, selected studies were summarized and evaluated through a (critical) review. Results: Ultimately, 42 studies were selected and evaluated. Patients with dizziness in general and patients with a specific vestibular disorder like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Vestibular Migraine, Meniere's disease, and vestibular hypofunction were significantly more likely to have sleep disorders than control groups. A causal relationship is not supported due to the nature of the studies. In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome there were significantly more vestibular complaints, and more disorders in the vestibular system were identified. Conclusion: Dizziness complaints often co-exist with a sleep disorder. To what extent this sleep disorder influences dizziness is not clear. Paying attention to the quality of sleep in patients with a vestibular disorder seems to be important. In patients with OSAS, consideration should be given to vestibular complaints and dysfunction.

The ANTI-LAMBDA: A Non-statical Tonal Indicator Low-Frequency Air-Bone Gap of Ménière's Bouts and Disease Activity.

INTRODUCTION:  There have been reports of patients with Ménière´s disease (MD) showing unexplained audiometric air-bone gaps at low frequencies. Little is known about the clinical significance of this finding. The objective of this study was to describe this phenomenon while relating it with clinical features, namely the incidence of attacks. METHODS: Unilateral MD patients were selected and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) was assessed to exclude structural pathology. A retrospective longitudinal analysis regarding disease activity and audiometric details was performed. A coincidence index and regression predictive models were considered to assess the relationship between the air-bone gap and MD activity. RESULTS:  A total of 70 MD patients were enrolled and 252 audiograms were assessed. Low-frequency air-bone gaps (LFABGs) were significantly associated with unstable MD (p < 0.001), demonstrating a sensitivity and specificity of 93.8% and 82.7%, respectively. The incidence of unstable disease with the presence of LFABG was 89.1 %. A higher LFABG magnitude correlated with increased disease activity (p < 0.001) and was particularly pronounced at 250 Hz and 500 Hz. CONCLUSION: The typical LFABG encountered was here called ANTI-LAMBDA (A Non-statical Tonal Indicator Low-Frequency Air-Bone Gap of Ménière's Bouts and Disease Activity). It relates to MD activity and is a potential new tool to assess MD stability/need for additional therapeutics.

The role of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants in addressing reduction of Meniere's disease burden: A scoping review.

Objective: To assess the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in reducing vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss among patients with Meniere's disease (MD). Data Sources: The following databases were utilized in this scoping review: Ovid Medline, PubMed-NCBI, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov. Method: Studies were identified through the following search phrases: "serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors" OR "tricyclic antidepressants" AND "Meniere's disease." References from included manuscripts were examined for possible inclusion of additional studies. Results: The literature search yielded 23 results, which were screened by three independent reviewers. Seventeen studies and three duplicates were excluded. An examination of references from the included studies yielded two additional publications. A total of four published studies assessing SSRIs and TCAs among 147 patients with MD were ultimately included. Four studies described significant reductions in vertigo attack frequency among patients treated with either SSRIs or TCAs compared to their pretreatment baseline. Three studies assessed the drugs' effects on hearing, of which none found a significant difference among patients treated with SSRIs or TCAs. One study found a significant decrease in patient-reported tinnitus following treatment with TCAs or SSRIs compared to their pretreatment baseline. Conclusions: Data exploring SSRIs and TCAs among patients with MD suggests that these medications may reduce the frequency of tinnitus and vertigo, although there was significant heterogeneity in outcome reporting. There remains a need for larger-scale prospective studies that emphasize objective data to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing common MD symptoms.

The relationship between endolymphatic hydrops features and hearing loss in Bilateral Meniere's disease.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the features of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss in patients with Bilateral Meniere's Disease. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 77 patients diagnosed with Bilateral Meniere's Disease. The features of endolymphatic hydrops in the affected ear were evaluated through gadolinium-enhanced inner ear Magnetic resonance imaging. The Spearman correlation coefficient, paired t-tests, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a significant correlation between the degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss across all frequencies(0.125-8 kHz), including the cochlear, vestibular, and overall degree of endolymphatic hydrops. The strongest correlation between the overall degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing loss was observed at low frequencies (r = 0.571, p < 0.05), followed by mid-frequencies (r = 0.508, p < 0.05), and high-frequencies (r = 0.351, p < 0.05), with a correlation of r = 0.463, p < 0.05 for the staging of Meniere's disease. Affected Ears with endolymphatic hydrops both in the cochlea and vestibule exhibited more severe hearing loss and Meniere's disease staging compared to those with isolated endolymphatic hydrops within the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: The features of endolymphatic hydrops in patients with Bilateral Meniere's Disease were found to correlate with the severity of hearing loss and the staging of Meniere's disease.

Angular Trajectory of the Vestibular Aqueduct in a Cohort of Chinese Patients with Unilateral Ménière's Disease: Association with Other Imaging Indices and Clinical Profiles.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association between the angular trajectory of the vestibular aqueduct (ATVA) with other radiological parameters of temporal bone and clinical characteristics in patients with Ménière's disease (MD). METHODS: A total of 125 unilateral MD patients and 118 controls were enrolled. Computer tomography (CT)-based radiological parameters included ATVA, vestibular aqueduct (VA) visibility, VA morphology, the vertical part of the posterior semicircular canal-the posterior fossa distance (PPD), and peri-VA pneumatization. The clinical characteristics of MD patients included gender, age of diagnosis/onset, disease duration, migraine history, clinical staging, and the results of audio-vestibular tests. The radiological parameters and clinical characteristics in MD patients were compared. RESULTS: Compared with control ears, ATVA ≥ 140° was more prevalent and ATVA ≤ 120° was less frequent in the MD-affected side. For the MD-affected side, MD patients with ATVA ≥ 140° exhibited more severe VA invisibility and obliteration and higher male preponderance than those with ATVA ≤ 120°. Other radio-clinical features did not differ between these two subgroups. CONCLUSION: In the current study, ATVA ≥ 140°, an indicator of a hypoplastic endolymphatic sac, was found in approximately one-third of the affected and unaffected ears of patients with MD, as well as in a minority of controls. This suggests that the indices may be a predisposing factor rather than a specific marker for the MD ear. The male preponderance in MD patients with hypoplastic ES suggests a gender difference in the anatomical factors for MD pathogenesis.

Comparative efficacy of intratympanic gentamicin and intratympanic corticosteroid in the treatment of Meniere's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of gentamicin compared to corticosteroids for the treatment of Meniere's disease. Methods: An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science until May 2024. For continuous outcomes, pooled effect estimates were determined by calculating the weighted mean difference (WMD), while for binary outcomes, the risk ratio (RR) was used, each accompanied by their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using Cochran's I 2 and Q statistics. Results: A total of 12 studies were selected, involving 694 patients. Our analysis found that the gentamicin group demonstrates superior vertigo control rates compared to the corticosteroid group (RR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.65, p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the gentamicin group showed a higher vertigo control rates at 6 months compared to the corticosteroid group (RR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.28 to 2.24, p < 0.001); however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at 12 months (RR: 1.48, 95% CI: 0.88 to 2.49, p = 0.14). Regarding changes in pure tone average, the corticosteroid group was superior to the gentamicin group (WMD: 4.41, 95% CI: 3.31 to 5.52, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study suggests that the intratympanic gentamicin group achieves higher vertigo control rates, whereas the corticosteroid group demonstrates better improvement in pure tone averages. However, the high heterogeneity in vertigo control rates warrants caution. Larger sample-sized randomized controlled trials are needed to further validate these findings.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Affect Human Inner Ear Vascular Permeability.

The integrity of the blood-labyrinth barrier (BLB) is essential for inner ear homeostasis, regulating the ionic composition of endolymph and perilymph and preventing harmful substance entry. Endothelial hyperpermeability, central in inflammatory and immune responses, is managed through complex intercellular communication and molecular signaling pathways. Recent studies link BLB permeability dysregulation to auditory pathologies like acoustic trauma, autoimmune inner ear diseases, and presbycusis. Polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs), or neutrophils, significantly modulate vascular permeability, impacting endothelial barrier properties. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are involved in diseases with autoimmune and autoinflammatory bases. The present study evaluated the impact of NETs on a BLB cellular model using a Transwell® setup. Our findings revealed a concentration-dependent impact of NETs on human inner ear-derived endothelial cells. In particular, endothelial permeability markers increased, as indicated by reduced transepithelial electrical resistance, enhanced dextran permeability, and downregulated junctional gene expression (ZO1, OCL, and CDH5). Changes in cytoskeletal architecture were also observed. These preliminary results pave the way for further research into the potential involvement of NETs in BLB impairment and implications for auditory disorders.

Semicircular canal and vestibular plugging in patients with Meniere's disease: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic options are limited for patients with intractable Meniere's disease who present with recurrent episodes of vertigo and drop attacks. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of simultaneous semicircular canal plugging and vestibular plugging in the treatment of Meniere's disease with drop attacks. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a single-center study with a 6-month post-operative follow-up. It included five patients with intractable Meniere's disease who presented with recurrent vertigo and drop attacks. All patients underwent surgery of semicircular canal plugging and vestibular plugging. The main outcome measures were vertigo control, drop attack control, hearing, and vestibular function; they were evaluated pre- and post-operatively. RESULTS: Of the five patients, none had a recurrence of drop attacks; four had no recurrence of vertigo, and one patient had one episode of vertigo. Two patients had residual hearing before surgery, which was preserved postoperatively. All patients showed altered results in vestibular tests. CONCLUSIONS: Semicircular canal plugging and vestibular plugging appear to be an effective treatment for intractable Meniere's disease presenting with recurrent vertigo and drop attacks. More studies are needed to confirm these results. SIGNIFICANCE: This novel surgical procedure can control vestibular symptoms of Meniere's disease while hopefully preserving the hearing function.

Multiomic-based immune response profiling in migraine, vestibular migraine and Meniere's disease.

Migraine (MI) is the most common neurological disease, affecting with 20% of the world population. A subset of 25% of MI patients showcase concurrent vestibular symptoms, which may classify as vestibular migraine (VM). Meniere's disease (MD) is a complex inner ear disorder defined by episodes of vertigo associated with tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss with a significant autoimmune/autoinflammatory contribution, which symptoms overlap with VM. Blood samples from 18 patients with MI (5), VM (5) and MD (8) and 6 controls were collected and compared in a case-control study. Droplet-isolated nuclei from mononuclear cells used to generate scRNAseq and scATACseq data sets from MI, VM and MD. MI and VM have no differences in their immune transcriptome; therefore, they were considered as a single cluster for further analyses. Natural Killer (NK) cells transcriptomic data support a polarisation triggered by Type 1 innate immune cells via the release of interleukin (IL)-12, IL-15 and IL-18. According to the monocyte scRNAseq data, there were two MD clusters, one inactive and one driven by monocytes. The unique pathways of the MI + VM cluster were cellular responses to metal ions, whereas MD monocyte-driven cluster pathways showed responses to biotic stimuli. MI and MD have different immune responses. These findings support that MI and VM have a Type 1 immune lymphoid cell response, and that there are two clusters of MD patients, one inactive and one Monocyte-driven.

The characteristics of three-dimensional real inversion recovery MRI sequence in delayed Meniere's disease.

BACKGROUND: Delayed Meniere's disease (DMD) is characterized by episodic vertigo occurring after a significant delay following longstanding sensorineural hearing loss. However, its pathogenesis and characteristics remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To explore the characteristics of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in DMD and investigate its pathology using MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 patients diagnosed with DMD were included in this study. A 3D-real-IR MRI sequence was utilized to visualize and grade EH. The signal intensity of the basal cochlear turn was compared to that of the cerebellar white matter to calculate the CC ratio. A paired t-test was employed to assess the differences in the CC ratio between the affected and unaffected sides in patients with unilateral DMD. RESULTS: EH was present in 100% of cases on the affected side. Unilateral EH was seen in 82.4%, and bilateral EH in 23.5%. Vestibular EH without cochlear involvement occurred in 29.4%, and cochlear EH without vestibular involvement in 5.9%. The CC ratio was significantly higher on the affected side (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: A significant grade of vestibular EH was observed in DMD, with bilateral EH being relatively common. The increased contrast on the affected side may reflect the underlying pathology in DMD patients.

Applications of Machine Learning in Meniere's Disease Assessment Based on Pure-Tone Audiometry.

OBJECTIVE: To apply machine learning models based on air conduction thresholds of pure-tone audiometry for automatic diagnosis of Meniere's disease (MD) and prediction of endolymphatic hydrops (EH). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. METHODS: Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging sequences and pure-tone audiometry data were collected. Subsequently, basic and multiple analytical features were engineered based on the air conduction thresholds of pure-tone audiometry. Later, 5 classical machine learning models were trained to diagnose MD using the engineered features. The models demonstrating excellent performance were also selected to predict EH. The model's effectiveness in MD diagnosis was compared with experienced otolaryngologists. RESULTS: First, the winning light gradient boosting (LGB) machine learning model trained by multiple features demonstrates a remarkable performance on the diagnosis of MD, achieving an accuracy rate of 87%, sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 90%, and a robust area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.95, which compares favorably with experienced clinicians. Second, the LGB model, with an accuracy of 78% on EH prediction, outperformed the other 3 machine learning models. Finally, a feature importance analysis reveals a pivotal role of the specific pure-tone audiometry features that are essential for both MD diagnosis and EH prediction. Highlighted features include standard deviation and mean of the whole-frequency hearing, the peak of the audiogram, and hearing at low frequencies, notably at 250 Hz. CONCLUSION: An efficient machine learning model based on pure-tone audiometry features was produced to diagnose MD, which also showed the potential to predict the subtypes of EH. The innovative approach demonstrated a game-changing strategy for MD screening and promising cost-effective benefits for the health care enterprise.

The dissociation between pathological caloric testing and a normal video head impulse test helps differentiate between Menière's disease, vestibular migraine, and other vestibular disorders: a confirmatory study in a large cohort of 2,101 patients.

Vestibular migraine (VM) and Menière's disease (MD) are characterized by episodes of vertigo of similar duration. It is well known that differentiation between both diseases is not always possible based only on the patient history, physical examination, and audiological testing. In addition, the quantification of the vestibular function can also be helpful since, among patients with MD, there is often a dissociation between a normal/pseudo-normal video head impulse test (vHIT) and reduced caloric testing. The goal of this confirmatory study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of this dissociation to differentiate between MD and VM as well as between MD and other vestibular diseases. We performed a retrospective analysis of 2,101 patients. The examination group consisted of 1,100 patients; of these, 627 (57%) had MD according to the diagnostic criteria of the Bárány Society and 473 (43%) had VM. The comparison group consisted of 1,001 patients with other peripheral, central, or functional vestibular disorders. Statistical analysis revealed the following findings for the dissociation: MD vs. VM: specificity: 83.5%, sensitivity: 58.9%, PPV: 82.6%, and NPV: 60.5%, and MD vs. all other vestibular disorders (VM plus others): specificity: 83.5%, sensitivity: 58.9%, PPV: 60.3%, and NPV: 82.7%. The dissociation between a normal vHIT and a reduced caloric response is due to the high specificity and PPV suited for the differentiation between MD and VM. This part of the study confirms previous findings in a large cohort of patients. When it comes to differentiating between MD and all observed vestibular disorders, if there is no dissociation, the diagnosis of MD is unlikely.

Efficacy of endolymphatic duct blockage in treating Ménière's disease. / å† æ·‹å·´ç®¡å¤¹é—­æœ¯æ²»ç–—æ¢ å°¼åŸƒç— çš„æ•ˆæžœ.

OBJECTIVES: Ménière's disease (MD) is an idiopathic inner ear disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of episodic rotational vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of ear stuffiness. Endolymphatic sac (ES)-related surgery is used primarily in patients with MD who have failed to respond to pharmacologic therapy. Endolymphatic duct blockage (EDB) is a new procedure for the treatment of MD, and related clinical studies are still scarce. This study aims to investigate the dynamic changes in endolymphatic hydrops (EH) and the long-term surgical outcomes in MD patients undergoing EDB, and to evaluate the impact of different types of ES on the surgical efficacy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 33 patients with refractory MD who underwent EDB. Based on the morphology of their endolymphatic sacs, patients were divided into a normal-type group (n=14) and an atrophic-type group (n=19). The frequency of vertigo symptoms, hearing, vestibular function, and the dynamic changes of gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the inner ear were compared were compared before and after surgery between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the atrophic-type group, the patients in the normal-type group had a higher rate of complete vertigo control, better cochlear and vestibular function, and a lower endolymph to vestibule volume ratio (all P<0.05). In addition, 7 patients in the normal-type group were found to have reversal of EH, while no reversal of EH was detected in the atrophic-type group after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The response to EDB treatment varies between normal and atrophic MD patients, suggesting that the 2 pathological types of endolymphatic sacs may have different underlying mechanisms of disease.

Clinical Profile, Trends, and Management in Pediatric Patients with Audiovestibular Disorders: Can We Predict Emotional Disability in Pediatric Patients with Episodes of Vertigo and Dizziness?

BACKGROUND: Audiovestibular disorders in childhood occur with considerable frequency. However, the difficulty of obtaining medical history, the nonspecificity of symptoms, and the lack of cooperation during complementary tests often contribute significantly to diagnostic biases, attributing clinical presentations to psychosomatic disorders. The objectives of this work are, firstly, to characterize, from an auditory and vestibular perspective, the most frequent causes of vertigo in childhood and a possible relationship with emotional symptoms. On the other hand, to propose the usefulness of the MSSQ-Short questionnaire as a predictive variable in the evolution of children diagnosed with recurrent vertigo of childhood (RVC). METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was designed with retrospective data collection at three tertiary hospitals. RESULTS: Among the 117 patients recruited between 2016 and 2024, 32 patients (27.35%) were diagnosed with an anxious-depressive syndrome prior to audiovestibular testing. The mean age was 11.19 ± 5.61 years and the most frequent final diagnoses were vestibular migraine (VM) with 41.03% and RVC with 23.93%. Patients with VM, compared with RVC, are approximately 1.12 times more likely to have psychosomatic pathology (CI 0.39 to 3.25). The most sensitive and frequently altered test was VEMPS (39.32%), with statistical significance in VM and otic capsule dehiscence, while regarding the MSSQ-Short questionnaire, the linear regression of 0.28 indicates an increase in clinical duration with high questionnaire scores. CONCLUSIONS: Vestibular disorders causing dizziness and vertigo are challenging to diagnose, often due to lack of cooperation and/or symptom nonspecificity. A thorough medical history and complementary tests, including audiovestibular and imaging studies, are advisable, thus avoiding systematically attributing children's complaints to other psychosomatic disorders.