Analysis of Relationship between the Dehydration Test and the Diuretics Treatment in Definite Meniere's Disease

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesZZDiuretics and dehydration tests are used for the main treatment of Meniere’s disease as well as the predictor of the disease activity. We analyzed the relationship between the results of dehydration test and the effect of diuretics in patients with definite Meniere’s disease. Subjects and MethodZZSeventy patients with definite Meniere’s disease were selected from January 1999 to June 2007 by reviewing the medical records, retrospectively. Fifty six patients underwent a glycerol test and thirty patients with the furosemide test before treatment. Hydrochlorothiazide was prescribed over twelve months. ResultsZZThe positive rates of glycerol and furosemide tests were 46.7% and 51.8%, respectively. The number of patients who kept the medication over twelve months were 62 (88.6%); those who showed complete remission (CR) were 10 (16.1%), partial remission (PR) 26 (41.9%) and no response (NR) 26 (41.9%). The positive rate of furosemide test was 60% in the patients with CR, 44.4% in patients with PR and 42.9% in patients with NR. The positive rate of glycerol test was 80% in the patients with CR, 68% with PR and 25% with NR. There is statistically significant relationship between the positive rate of glycerol test and the treatment response (p=0.001), but there was no correlation between the positive rate of furosemide test and the treatment response (p=1.000). ConclusionZZThe significant relationship was found between diuretics treatment and glycerol test. The glycerol test can be used as an indicator for expecting a good treatment response to diuretic therapy. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2010;53:7-11 Key WordsZZMeniere’s disease·Dehydration test·Diuretics.