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Meniere's Disease - Information Overview
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Meniere's disease (endolymphatic hydrops, endolymphatic dropsy) is a disease of the inner ear caused by an increase in the amount of endolymph (labyrinth hydrops) and manifested by periodic attacks of systemic dizziness, tinnitus, and progressive hearing loss of the sensorineural type.
ICD-10 code
H81.0 Meniere's disease.
[ Causes of Meniere's Disease
The disease has no specific etiology. The term "idiopathic" takes first place in the definition of this disease; the main cause (or causes) of this nosological unit depends on a number of factors that can lead to the development of endolymphatic dropsy. Among them are viral infections, vascular disorders, autoimmune processes, allergic reactions, injuries, endocrine diseases, etc.
Meniere's Disease - Causes and Pathogenesis
Symptoms of Meniere's disease
Despite the complete similarity of symptoms, the causes of endolymphatic hydrops in each individual patient may be different. Meniere's disease is rarely observed in childhood; usually, a fairly long period of time is required for the development of endolymphatic hydrops. At the same time, before endolymphatic hydrops occurs, unfavorable factors must probably have a repeated or chronic effect on the ear. Despite the fact that both ears are exposed to the same factors and pathogenic influences, Meniere's disease usually begins on one side.
Bilateral lesions are observed in approximately 30% of patients, and, as a rule, intracranial hypertension is characteristic. When unilateral changes develop simultaneously, endolymphatic hydrops is characterized as secondary.
Where does it hurt?
What's bothering you?
Screening
At present, there is no screening method for diagnosing Meniere's disease. Dehydration methods and electrocochleography are used to detect hydrops of the labyrinthine. The examination should include an assessment of the clinical picture and the state of the auditory and vestibular systems, as well as a differential diagnostic complex with diseases of the nervous system, mental disorders, vascular diseases, diseases of the middle and inner ear that can cause systemic vertigo.
Diagnosis of Meniere's disease
Since the changes in Meniere's disease are localized in the inner ear, the most important thing in diagnosing this disease is to assess the condition of the organ of hearing and balance. Otoscopy reveals unchanged eardrums. An otolaryngologist can conduct a primary examination of the hearing function. A tuning fork examination determines the localization of sounds in the Weber test. When the hearing function changes, lateralization is determined already at the early stages by the type of neurosensory changes (towards the better hearing ear). The Rinne and Federici tests also reveal changes typical of neurosensory hearing loss - both tests are positive on both the better and worse hearing ear.
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Treatment of Meniere's disease
The peculiarity of conservative treatment of this disease is the low level of evidence of the effectiveness of the treatment, which is associated with a number of factors: the etiology of the disease is not known for certain, there is a high percentage of placebo-positive treatment results, and the severity of pathological symptoms decreases with the course of the disease. Treatment measures for Meniere's disease are mainly empirical.
There are two stages of treatment for Meniere's disease: stopping attacks and long-term treatment.
Drugs