Meniere's disease

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Background

  • Occurs due to increased endolymph within the cochlea and labyrinth
  • First attack usually occurs in patients >65yrs
  • Usually is unilateral but may become bilateral w/ time

Clinical Features

  • Episodes of sudden-onset vertigo w/ nausea/vomiting
    • Duration: usually 2-8hr
    • Frequency: Ranges from several episodes per week to several times per month
  • Roaring tinnitus
  • Diminished hearing
  • Fullness in affected ear
  • Between attacks patient is well (although decreased hearing may persist)

Differential Diagnosis

Vertigo

Diagnosis

Treatment

  • Treat vertigo symptomatically with scopolamine, antihistamines, or benzodiazepines
  • Vestibulosuppressant options[2]
    • Meclizine 25-50 mg PO
    • Diazepam 5-10 mg PO or IV
    • Other options: scopolamine, promethazine, prochlorperazine, metoclopramide
  • Diuretics may decrease fluid pressure in ear:
    • HCTZ
    • Acetazolamide
    • Avoid loop diuretics due to ototoxicity
  • Consider IM steroid injection, followed by tapered PO prednisone[3]
  • Routine ENT referral for medical treatment failures (endolymphatic decompression, vestibular nerve section, labyrunthectomy, intra-TM injections)[4][5]

Disposition

  • Refer to ENT

References

  1. Lorenzi MC, Bento RF, Daniel MM, Leite CC. Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bone in patients with Ménière's disease. Acta Otolaryngol. 2000 Aug. 120(5):615-9.
  2. Minor LB, Schessel DA, Carey JP. Ménière's disease. Curr Opin Neurol. 2004 Feb. 17(1):9-16.
  3. Sajjadi H. Medical management of Meniere's disease. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2002 Jun. 35(3):581-9, vii.
  4. Pullens B, Giard JL, Verschuur HP, van Benthem PP. Surgery for Ménière's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20. CD005395.
  5. Barrs DM. Intratympanic corticosteroids for Meniere's disease and vertigo. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2004 Oct. 37(5):955-72, v.