Results of Otolithic Function Testing and Related Clinical Features in Unilateral Definite Meniere's Disease

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to identify the typical pattern of otolithic function tests in unilateral definite Meniere's disease patients. And we compared with clinical features and other tests results of patients who showed abnormal otolithic function tests. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We reviewed 42 patients (29 patients are female and 13 patients are male) who were diagnosed as unilateral definite Meniere's disease and underwent otolithic function tests in Hospital from December 2005 to April 2007. RESULTS: The patients who showed abnormal findings in vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) have suffered for longer period than the others. Those results of VEMP had positive correlation with summating potential/action potential (SP/AP) ratio. The average deviation of subjective visual vertical/ horizontal (SVV/SVH) were relatively higher in that disease patients than normal controls. There was no significant relation between VEMP results and other clinical features and result of other tests (caloric test and pure tone audiometry). CONCLUSION: The longer prevalence period of Meniere's disease is, the more susceptability of abnormal VEMP we can expect. In those, SVV/H can go out of normal range. Like a electrocochleography, otolithic function test could play a supportive role in diagnosing of Meniere's disease.