NATURAL HISTORY OF MENIERE’S DISEASE

Servei de Publicacions Antonio Belinchón de Diego

The AAO (1; 2) (American Academy of Otolaryngology) (1995) considers Menière’s disease (MS) as an idiopathic syndrome of endolymphatic hydrops defined clinically by spontaneous episodes of recurrent vertigo, hearing loss, otic fullness and tinnitus. To carry out the diagnosis of Menière’s disease Definitive requirements must be met:

  • The patient must have suffered at least two typical episodes of vertigo. The episodes must be at least 20 minutes long, are accompanied by imbalance and frequently by vegetative courtship, force him to rest, and always present horizontal or horizontal-rotational nystagmus.
  • Hearing loss, of a perceptual nature, must be verified audiometrically on at least one occasion. Although it is common for hearing to fluctuate, this phenomenon is not essential for the diagnosis, provided that cochlear hearing loss has been verified.
  • Tinnitus, otic fullness, or both must be present in the affected ear to make the diagnosis.