Meniere Disease

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2025 -- Occupational exposure to noise and/or vibrations is associated with the presence of vertigo , according to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine . Inés Sánchez-Sellero, Ph.D., and Andrés Soto-Varela, Ph.D., both from Universidade de Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and colleagues examined the relationship between occupational noise and/or vibration exposure and vertigo. The analysis included 393 patients (193 with Meniere disease, 63 with vestibular migraine, 21 with vestibular neuritis, and 116 with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), as well as data from the general population. The researchers found that differences in the distribution of occupations between patients with vertigo and the general population were significant (Chi-square, P = 4.065 × e −20 ). Additionally, patients with vertigo had significantly more exposure to noise (Fisher's exact test, P = 2.97 × e −10 ; odds ratio, 2.595) and vibrations (Fisher's exact test, P = 6.23 × e −10 ; odds ratio, 2.722) compared with the control group. Findings were similar for both men and women. "A relationship between occupational exposure to noise and/or vibrations and the presence of vertigo was observed," the authors write. "Protective and preventive measures could help prevent the occurrence of some diseases involving vertigo." Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2025 -- Nystagmus during vertigo attacks in patients with Meniere disease can be video-recorded with a mobile phone and provide a helpful therapeutic aid, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine . Valéria Ionescu, from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne in France, and colleagues describe the characteristics of nystagmus during vertigo attacks, the feasibility of self-video recording of eye movements by mobile phone, and the therapeutic implication of nystagmus. Patients with definite MD according to the Barany Society were included in the study; they were recorded during their attacks by videonystagmoscopy by the physician and/or mobile phone by the patient or immediate surroundings. Overall, eight, eight, and one patients were video-recorded by mobile phone, videonystagmoscopy, or both, respectively. The researchers found that in 14 patients (seven irritative type, five deficit type, and two changed from deficit to irritative type), the nystagmus was horizontal. In three patients, the nystagmus was vertical (two down-beating and one up-beating); in two patients, the vertical nystagmus changed to a more classical horizontal nystagmus. "The direction of the nystagmus during vertigo attacks in MD is mostly horizontal, although it can be vertical and can change direction," the authors write. "From a diagnostic point of view, the direction of the nystagmus is of no value to deducing the affected side in MD. The nystagmus during vertigo attacks can be video-recorded by the mobile phone of the patient, which is objective proof of the impact on daily life and confirms a disabling MD. From a therapeutic point of view, this was a helpful aid when chemical labyrinthectomy was being considered." Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2025 -- In an article published online Dec. 3 in European Radiology , the authors explore the performance and optimal combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) descriptors used for the diagnosis of Meniere disease (MD). Steve Connor, from King's College London, and colleagues conducted a retrospective, single-center cross-sectional study to assess delayed post-gadolinium "zero-point" endolymph (ZPE) and an optimized real-inversion recovery sequence with negative signal endolymph (NSE) MRI in consecutive patients with Meniereform symptoms. Fourteen MRI descriptors were assessed in 132 patients: 87 meeting wider clinical criteria ("all MD") and 39 control ears. The researchers observed an increased perilymph signal-to-noise ratio and improved diagnostic performance and reliability for nine of 14 descriptors with the NSE sequence. For the best descriptor of "saccule absent, large as or confluent with the utricle" and that of "asymmetric perilymphatic enhancement," ZPE demonstrated superior diagnostic performance (risk ratios, 6.571 and 6.300 for ZPE and NSE, respectively; 3.628 and 2.903 for ZPE and NSE, respectively). In the optimal predictive model for "definite MD," both sequences combined these two descriptions; "grade 2 cochlear hydrops" was also significant for NSE. Overall, 95.8 percent of the ears were correctly classified with ZPE and NSE descriptor combinations. For all MD, the ZPE descriptor combination performed better (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.914 and 0.893 for ZPE and NSE, respectively). "The relative advantages of each approach justify the continued application of either sequence in clinical practice; however, radiologists should appreciate that the choice of sequence will influence which MRI features should be evaluated for the diagnosis of MD," the authors write. Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.