Studies on Criteria for Diagnosis of Meniere's Disease

Abstract

In 1974, the Meniere's Disease Research Commitee in Japan designated the criteria for the diagnosis of Meniere's disease. However, there was little consideration of the objective neuro-tological findings in this disease.During 1987, 451 patients with vertigo and/or dizziness, who visited the Neurotological Clinic of Toyama Medical & Pharmaceutical University Hospital, were tested neurotologically. There were 27 definte and 30 suspected cases of Meniere's disease diagnosed according to the Committee's criteria.However, seven patients with vertigo and cochlear symptoms, who had subjectiverly satisfied the cirteria, were excluded because of other CNS findings, such as abnormal hyperexcitatory caloric response, abnormal OKN findings and abnormal image findings (CT-scan, VAG).These clinical observations lead us to conclude that the criteria for the diagnosis of Meniere's disease should include objective findings, especially tests for endolymphatic hydrops, such as the glycerol test, electrocochleography (ECoG) and the furosemide VOR-test.