Origins and Causes of Ménière's disease
The diagnosis of Ménière's disease (or syndrome) is generally made on the basis of 4 symptoms (hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, fullness) being present. It is generally accepted (though not well proven) that the underlying cause of these symptoms is endolymphatic hydrops , a swelling of one of the tiny, fluid-filled compartments of the inner ear. The symptoms are usually explained by different aspects of the hydrops disturbing the normal function of the inner ear. Based on this view, some treatments are directed at reducing endolymphatic hydrops, thereby intending to relieve symptoms. However, since it is not known how endolymph volume is regulated, and endolymph volume cannot be measured in the patient, there are still no treatments which have been shown to reduce hydrops. The diverse treatments presently in use to treat the disease are those which experience has shown bring most relief to the patients symptoms. In many cases the precise manner by which the treatment affects the inner ear remains unknown. If an effective "cure" for Ménière's disease were to become available, then the use of many of the the less effective treatments would decline.
Although endolymphatic hydrops may be the common cause of Ménière's disease, there appear to be many different factors which have been suggested to cause hydrops. The most common are:
- Autoimmune reactions
- Allergic responses
- Autonomic imbalances
- Blockages and/or damage to endolymphatic structures
- Viral Infections
- Vascular irregularities
Reading Material on Ménière's disease
Meniere's Disease - What you need to know.Author: P.J. Haybach, R.N.
Available priced $24-95 (paperback) + $3.00 S&H, from the Vestibular Disorders Association, PO Box 4467, Portland, OR, 97208-4467
This is the first book I have seen which is written to help patients with Meniere's disease. It covers a wide range of issues in a non-technical way.
The books below are more technical, and are aimed at scientists in the field, or possibly those with some scientific background. They are usually available by interlibrary loan through Medical School or University libraries.
Meniere's Disease (Proceedings of the16th Danavox symposium, Kolding, Denmark) Edited by Vesterhauge, S., Katholm, M. and Mikines, P. 1995. This book is available through The Danavox Jubilee Foundation, Markaervej 2A, PO Box 224, DK-2630, Taastrup, Denmark.
Ménière's Disease : Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment. (second symposium) Edited by Nadol, J. (1989) Kugler&Ghedini publications.
Controversial aspects of Ménière's Disease. Edited by Pfaltz, C.R. (1986) Thieme Inc, New York.
Ménière's Disease : Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment. (First symposium) Edited by Vosteen, K. -H., Schuknecht, H., Pfaltz, C.R., Wersall, J., Kimura, R.S., Morgenstern C. and Juhn, S.K. (1981) Thieme-Stratton Inc, New York.
Page generated by: Alec N. Salt, Ph.D.,
Cochlear Fluids Research Laboratory,
Washington University, St. Louis