Dexametasona transtimpánica para el tratamiento de la enfermedad de Ménière de difícil manejo

Resumen Introducción: La enfermedad de Ménière se caracteriza por crisis recurrentes de vértigo, asociado a hipoacusia y tinnitus, que pueden ser incapacitantes, y provocar estrés y ansiedad. Objetivos: Evaluar el efecto de la dexametasona transtimpánica sobre la audición y vértigo en pacientes con enfermedad de Ménière de difícil manejo. Material y Método: Se reclutó a pacientes con enfermedad de Ménière de difícil manejo médico quienes fueron tratados con tres inyecciones transt-impánicas de dexametasona (4 mg/ml). Se realizó audiometría, prueba calórica y dos encuestas de disca-pacidad (DHI y UCLA-DQ) al inicio, tres, y diez semanas posintervención, además de una entrevista a los seis meses. Resultados: Doce pacientes completaron el estudio. Se observó un aumento del promedio de umbrales auditivos hasta 11,25 dB, principalmente entre 125 y 3000 Hz a las tres semanas, y una reducción de éstos hasta 7,5 dB a las diez semanas respecto de los iniciales, principalmente entre 125 y 2000 Hz (no estadísticamente significativo). Todos los pacientes presentaron hipo-excitabilidad vestibular. Se observó una mejoría significativa en el puntaje de la encuesta UCLA-DQ posinterven-ción, manteniéndose durante todo el seguimiento. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el puntaje global ni subcomponentes de la encuesta DHI. Siete de ocho pacientes reportaron que volverían a utilizar las inyecciones. Conclusión: Los corticoides transtimpánicos pueden ayudar a disminuir la discapacidad e impacto en la calidad de vida de los pacientes con enfermedad de Ménière de difícil manejo a mediano y largo plazo.

Abstract Introduction: Ménière's disease is characterized by recurrent episodes of vertigo, sensorineural hearing loss and aural fullness, which can be incapacitating and cause stress and anxiety. Aim: To assess the effect of transtympanic steroid injections on hearing and vertigo for patients suffering from intractable Ménière's disease. Material and Method: Patients with intractable Ménière's disease were recruited and treated with three transtympanic steroid injections (dexamethasone 4 mg/ml). Audiometric and vestibular assessment, and two dizziness questionnaires (DHI, UCLA-DQ) were performed upon recruitment, three weeks, and ten weeks following the transtympanic treatment. A brief auto-perception survey was applied at 6 months follow-up. Results: Twelve patients completed the study. An increase in the mean auditory threshold was observed up to 11.25 dB, mainly between 125 and 3000 Hz at three weeks, and a reduction of these up to 7.5 dB at ten weeks with respect to the initial ones, mainly between 125 and 2000 Hz (not statistically significant). All patients presented vestibular dysfunction on caloric testing. A significant impro-vement in the UCLA-DQ survey score was observed, remaining throughout the follow-up. No statistically significant differences were found in the overall score or subcomponents of the DHI. Seven out of eight patients reported that they would undergo the injections again. Conclusion: Transtympanic corticosteroids can help to reduce disability and impact on the quality of life of patients with Ménière's disease that is difficult to manage in the medium and long term.

Manobra de Epley na vertigem posicional paroxística benigna associada à doença de Ménière / Epleys maneuver in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo associated with Menieres disease

Os efeitos da manobra de Epley na vertigem posicional paroxística benigna (VPPB) associada à doença de Ménière são controvertidos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a vertigem e o nistagmo de posicionamento após uma ou mais manobras de Epley na vertigem posicional paroxística benigna (VPPB) associada à doença de Ménière e na recorrência da VPPB. MATERISL E MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo de 62 pacientes com VPPB associada à doença de Ménière submetidos à manobra de Epley e acompanhados durante 12 meses após a extinção do nistagmo de posicionamento. RESULTADOS: Para abolir o nistagmo de posicionamento, foi necessária uma manobra de Epley em 80,7 por cento dos pacientes, duas em 16,1 por cento e três em 3,2 por cento. A vertigem foi eliminada em 71,0 por cento dos pacientes, melhorou em 27,4 por cento e permaneceu inalterada em 1,6 por cento. Quatro semanas após a extinção do nistagmo de posicionamento, todos os pacientes ficaram assintomáticos. Recorrência da VPPB foi observada em 19,4 por cento dos casos, com eliminação da vertigem e nistagmo de posicionamento à manobra específica para o canal afetado. CONCLUSÕES: Na VPPB associada à doença de Ménière, vertigem e nistagmo de posicionamento foram eliminados com uma, duas ou três manobras de Epley. A recorrência da VPPB foi resolvida com uma manobra para o canal envolvido.

The effects of Epleys maneuver in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) associated with Menières disease are controversial. AIMS: To evaluate the progression of positional vertigo and nystagmus after one or more of Epleys maneuvers in BPPV associated with Menières disease, and the recurrence of BPPV. METHOD: a retrospective study of 62 patients with BPPV associated with MenièreÆs disease, that underwent Epleys maneuver, and that were monitored during 12 months after elimination of positional nystagmus. RESULTS: One Epleys maneuver was required to eliminate positional nystagmus in 80.7 percent of the patients, two in 16.1 percent, and three in 3.2 percent; after elimination of nystagmus, positional vertigo was suppressed in 71.0 percent of the patients, improved in 27.4 percent and remained unaltered in 1.6 percent. Four weeks after elimination of positional nystagmus, all patients were asymptomatic. Recurrence of BPPV was seen in 19.4 percent of the cases, with elimination of the positional vertigo and nystagmus by means of the specific maneuver for the involved canal. CONCLUSION: In BPPV associated with Menières disease, vertigo and positioning nystagmus were eliminated with one, two or three Epley maneuvers. BPPV recurrence was resolved by using a specific maneuver for the affected canal.

Otimizando o componente farmacológico da terapia integrada da vertigem / Optimizing the pharmacological component of integrated balance therapy

A farmacoterapia é opção importante no tratamento das vestibulopatias periféricas. OBJETIVO: Identificar a medicação que otimiza a terapia integrada da vertigem (TIV) na doença de Ménière e em outras vestibulopatias periféricas. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo de casos em que pacientes com doença de Ménière ou outras vestibulopatias periféricas receberam TIV com betaistina, cinarizina, clonazepam, flunarizina, Ginkgo biloba ou sem medicação durante 120 dias. RESULTADOS: Na doença de Ménière, TIV com qualquer um dos medicamentos foi mais eficaz do que TIV sem medicação, após 60 dias; a betaistina foi mais efetiva que todas as outras drogas, após 60 e 120 dias. Nas outras vestibulopatias periféricas, diferenças significantes foram observadas entre TIV com betaistina, cinarizina, clonazepam ou flunarizina e TIV sem medicação após 60 dias e todas as drogas foram mais efetivas que TIV sem medicação após 120 dias; betaistina, cinarizina ou clonazepam foram igualmente efetivos e betaistina foi mais efetiva que flunarizina e Ginkgo biloba. Os tratamentos foram bem tolerados. CONCLUSÕES: TIV incluindo medicação é mais efetiva que sem medicação na doença de Ménière ou em outras vestibulopatias periféricas. Betaistina foi o medicamento mais efetivo na doença de Ménière e tão eficaz quanto cinarizina ou clonazepam em outras vestibulopatias periféricas.

Drug treatment is an important option for the treatment of peripheral vestibular diseases. AIM: To identify the drug component associated with optimal integrated balance therapy (IBT) for MénièreÆs disease or other peripheral vestibular disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analysis of a series of patients with MénièreÆs disease patients or patients with other peripheral vestibular disorders that received IBT involving either no medication or betahistine, cinnarizine, clonazepam, flunarizine or Ginkgo biloba during 120 days. RESULTS: In MénièreÆs disease, significant differences were observed for all drug therapies (60 days) versus no medication; betahistine was significantly more effective than all other drugs at 60 and 120 days. For non-MénièreÆs disorders, significant differences were observed among betahistine, cinnarizine, clonazepam and flunarizine and no medication after 60 days; all drug therapies were significantly more effective than no medication after 120 days; betahistine, cinnarizine or clonazepam were equally effective and betahistine was more effective than flunarizine and EGb 761. All treatment options were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Drug therapies were more effective than no medication in the IBT for patients with MénièreÆs disease or other peripheral vestibular disorders. Betahistine was the most effective medication for patients with MénièreÆs disease and was as effective as cinnarizine and clonazepam for other peripheral vestibular disorders.

Role of Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials to Elevate the Sensitivity of Objective Tests in Early Meniere's Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of Meniere's disease (MD) is based on detailed medical history and audiometry in addition to electrocochleography (ECoG). However, the sensitivity of ECoG is rather low and the diagnosis seems to be rather obscure if the patient is evaluated after resolution of acute symptom, especially in early stage of disease without substantial hearing loss. In such cases, if a patient complains recurrent episodes within short term period, any objective result would be beneficial to initiate medical treatment such as diuretics. Since the saccule is the main target organ in MD, authors suppose vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test combined with ECoG may elevate the diagnostic sensitivity in MD. Aim of study is to evaluate the possibility of this suggestion. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty-four patients of unilateral MD who have hearing loss less than 40 dB and onset of first attack within 1 year were included in this study. They underwent VEMP, caloric test and ECoG. Abnormal rates of each test and results of combination were analyzed according to the group of MD. RESULTS: Patients with abnormal results in VEMP, ECoG and calorict tests were 29%, 15% and 35%, respectively. Patients showed abnormal results either in VEMP or ECoG were 41% in all MD and 72% in definite group. CONCLUSIONS: To get higher objective evidence of cochleovestibulopahty in early MD, interpretation of VEMP result in addition to ECoG and caloric test seems to be beneficial.