Prognosis of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss]

We studied 50 patients with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) who were examined at the Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tokyo, and followed up for 18 months or more. We investigated the prognosis of hearing loss within 3 months after onset, rate of recurrence during long-term follow-up, interval between the first and the second episodes of hearing loss or between onset and the time when the diagnosis of Meniere's disease was made, and factors affecting prognosis. The results were as follows. 1. Within the initial 3 months of follow-up, hearing loss continued to fluctuate in 5 patients. In the remaining 45, hearing returned to normal in 34, improved without returning to normal in 6, showed no marked change in 4, and became worse in one. 2. In long-term follow-up, the recurrence of hearing loss without vertigo occurred in 16 patients, and 5 others were eventually diagnosed as having Meniere's disease. The average interval between the first and second episodes of hearing loss was 9.2 months, and the diagnosis of Meniere's disease was made an average of 27 months after onset. 3. Recurrence was not significantly related to the initial prognosis of hearing loss. 4. Within the initial 3 months of follow-up, the prognosis of hearing loss was significantly better in patients whose hearing loss at 1 kHz was within 20 dB, and tended to be better in females and in patients attending within one week of onset. Long-term follow-up showed that the rate of recurrence was significantly lower in patients aged 40 years or more, and tended to be lower in patients who visited the hospital within one week of onset or whose hearing loss at 1 kHz was within 20 dB. 5. There were no significant differences between patients with single and recurrent attacks with respect to sex, subjective symptoms, and results of the glycerol test and electrocochleography. ALHL tends to recur without any relationship to the initial prognosis of hearing loss. Since it is still difficult to predict whether or not hearing loss will recur, long-term follow-up is necessary even in patients with good initial prognosis.     

Is recurrent loss of low frequency tone perception--without vertigo--a precursor of Meniere disease?

PURPOSE: Recurrent low-frequency sensory hearing loss is one characteristic sign of Meniere's disease. It is therefore often assumed to be a prodromal sign of Meniere's disease. METHODS: We report on 81 patients with recurrent low-frequency sensory hearing loss who did not previously suffer from vertigo. All patients underwent a follow-up examination after at least 1 year up to more than 10 years after the onset of the disease [average: 64.65 months (SD 56.33)]. CONCLUSIONS: Only 3.7% of these patients developed the typical signs of Meniere's disease with labyrinthine vertigo, whereas 25.9% suffered from recurrent hearing loss and an unspecific vertigo, which could be diagnosed and treated as psychogenic vertigo; 3.7% showed a typical benign positional vertigo. We can thus conclude that although almost every patient with Meniere's disease suffers from recurrent hearing loss, only a few patients with recurrent hearing loss will develop Meniere's disease. However, many patients with low-frequency sensory hearing loss develop anxiety and psychogenic dizziness in expectation of "imminent" Meniere's disease. Therefore, it is important to counsel the patients carefully that the probability of this occurring is not very high.     

Clinical observations of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss considered as cochlear hydrops

Acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) has the following three criteria; obscure origin, acute onset and sensorineural hearing loss limited to low frequencies. Sixteen cases of ALHL which were considered as cochlear hydrops using glycerol test and electrocochleogram were studied. All patients visited our department within two weeks after onset and were followed up for one year or more after initial examination. The subjective symptoms, the character of vestibular and hearing impairment and prognosis of 16 cases with ALHL were also investigated. The results were as follows. 1. Patients complained of ear fullness rather than hearing impairment. Four patients were unaware of hearing loss. 2. Recruitment phenomenon was found in all of 15 cases examined. Vestibular findings were mostly normal, except that spontaneous nystagmus was found in two cases and head-shaking nystagmus in one. 3. Recurrence and fluctuation of hearing impairment occurred in 14 cases. Three cases had an attack of rotatory vertigo once and two has diagnosed as Meniere's disease later. 4. During three months prior to last examination, hearing was stabilized in nine cases and continued to fluctuate in seven cases. In the former, hearing was improved in four cases, unchanged in three, and worsened in two. 5. Two patients underwent an endolymphatic sac operation and have had a good prognosis. 6. The authors suggest that most of ALHL should be considered as transient cochlear hydrops because the subjective symptom and audiological and vestibular findings of our cases are similar to those of cases which were reported as ALHL by other investigators. According to the findings of glycerol test and electrocochleogram, endolymphatic hydrops in ALHL is considered to exist in all turns of cochlea.     

Bilaterality in acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss

Bilaterality in acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) is more generally recognized than that in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Subjects were 274 patients diagnosed with ALHL based on criteria of a study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, i.e., total of 3 low tone hearing of 70dB or more and, a total of 3 high-tone hearing of 60dB or less, and treated at the departments of otolaryngology at Yamanashi University and Suwa Central Hospital. ALHL involving bilateral ears symptoms and/or bilateral hearing impairment conforming to diagnostic criteria was selected and summarized. Clinical ear symptoms, clinical test results, and hearing levels (total 3 low tone hearing, 1kHz, and total of 3 high-tone hearing) were statistically analyzed. We also reviewed Japanese clinical reports of ALHL that include bilateral cases. In 32 cases (11.7%) of 274 cases, both ear symptoms and hearing impairment were bilateral. In 22 (8.0%) of the 274, bilateral ear symptoms were present, but showed unilateral hearing loss conforming to diagnostic criteria. Another 22 (8.0%) out the 274 reported unilateral ear symptoms, but hearing tests indicated bilateral ALHL. A total of 76 cases (27.7%) of the 274 had bilaterality in either ear symptoms or hearing loss. Our review indicated that 9.0% (162 of 1803) ALHL patients were bilaterally affected, possibly indicating that AIHL includes a larger number of bilateral cases than currently assumed, if the opposite side were given a especially detailed clinical interview. Statistical analysis (Mann Whitney test, P<0.01) of hearing of unilateral cases indicated that 3 low tone hearing was more affected than 3 high-tone hearing, even on the normal side. These results indicate that ALHL tends to be bilateral, possibly due to the mechanism of pathogenesis, and also that the mechanism may include both local and general conditions. This more closely resembles Meniere's disease than idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Both sides of bilateral cases were not usually the same in hearing patterns, glycerol test results, or prognosis. A statistically significant difference (Mann Whitney test, P<0.01) in total of 3 low tone hearing was seen between worse and better sides in bilateral cases. The degree of disease on both sides in bilateral cases thus was not always the same. Bilateral cases may result from both the influence of general conditions such as fatigue, stress, and lack of sleep and local conditions such as pathogenesis of endolymphatic hydrops that may cause differences in both ears. No clear difference was seen in clinical symptoms, hearing levels, and clinical examination, e.g., Schellong and glyceol tests, between unilateral and bilateral cases. Bilateral cases had a poorer prognosis (lower complete recovery ratio; chi2 test P<0.01) than unilateral cases. Our results indicated that cautious evaluation of opposite ear is necessary in diagnosis, treatment, and prognostication of ALHL.     

Validity of the Western blot immunoassay for heat shock protein-70 in associated and isolated immunorelated inner ear disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of the Western blot immunoassay for heat shock protein-70 (hsp-70) for diagnosis of autoimmune inner ear disease. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 53 patients affected by sudden deafness (n = 19), idiopathic progressive sensorineural hearing loss (n = 24), and Meniere's disease (n = 10) who were treated from 1995 to 1999. The clinical course and response to corticosteroid were evaluated. METHODS: A purified hsp-70 antigen from bovine kidney cell line was used for the Western blot immunoassay. RESULTS: Only five patients (9.4%) showed anti--hsp-70 antibodies: Two presented a sudden sensorineural hearing loss (sudden deafness group), two showed an idiopathic progressive sensorineural hearing loss (idiopathic progressive sensorineural hearing loss group), and one was affected by fluctuating hearing loss (Meniere's disease group). A systemic autoimmune condition was observed in 29.1% of patients with idiopathic progressive sensorineural hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: The low sensitivity of Western blot immunoassay for patients affected by idiopathic progressive sensorineural hearing loss and Meniere's disease may result from either the long time elapsed from the hearing loss and vertigo to the initial examination or from the increased percentage of cases of systemic autoimmune disease present in patients with idiopathic progressive sensorineural hearing loss. More studies to detect the immune-mediated inner ear disease in Western blot immunoassay-negative patients are required.     

Transtympanic gentamicin perfusion for the treatment of Meniere's disease

Meniere's syndrome is defined as the clinical disorder associated with the histopathological finding of endolymphatic hydrops (ELH). Clinically, Meniere's syndrome includes the following features: recurrent, spontaneous episodic vertigo; hearing loss; aural fullness; and tinnitus. Recognized causes of Meniere's syndrome include: 1) idiopathic, also known as Meniere's disease; 2) posttraumatic, following head injury or ear surgery; 3) post-infectious or delayed-onset Meniere's syndrome following a viral infection, usually mumps or measles; 4) late stage syphilitic; 5) classic Cogan's syndrome with episodic vertigo, hearing loss, interstitial keratitis, without syphilis; 6) variant Cogan's syndrome with episodic vertigo, hearing loss, uveitis or other ocular inflammation and without syphilis. Although Meniere's disease is by far the most common cause of Meniere's syndrome and the terms are often used interchangeably, it should be remembered that a patient has an idiopathic etiology only when the known causes have been excluded.     

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: It was the authors' premise that the vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) test may be used to differentiate acute low-tone hearing loss (ALHL) from Meniere's disease with low-tone HL. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2002, consecutive 12 patients with ALHL and another 12 patients with definite Meniere's disease with low-tone HL were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent audiometry and VEMP test, before and after treatment with isosorbide for 3 consecutive months. RESULTS: Before treatment, 12 patients with ALHL revealed normal VEMPs (11, 92%) and augmented VEMPs (1). After treatment, 11 (92%) patients had resolved to normal hearing within 3 days. One year later, two (17%) patients progressed to Meniere's disease. In comparison with Meniere's disease, 6 (50%) of 12 patients showed normal VEMPs before treatment, and 7 (58%) patients had their hearing improved 3 months after treatment. Comparison of VEMP responses or hearing outcome between both groups exhibited significant differences. CONCLUSION: Most patients with ALHL reveal normal VEMPs throughout the episode, indicating that the saccule is spared. In contrast, 50% of Meniere's disease patients with low-tone HL demonstrate abnormal VEMPs, showing a significant difference. Therefore, the VEMP test can be used to differentiate ALHL from Meniere's disease with low-tone HL.     

Patientenführung bei Morbus Menière

Meniere's disease is characterised by recurrent attacks of vertigo, sensory hearing loss and tinnitus. Meniere's attacks can lead to additional bouts of dizziness. While diagnosis in recurrent spells is easily secured, managing the patients is as difficult as the often unclear development of this -- mostly -- progressive disease. The underlying principle for therapy of this frequently changing disease is a reliable patient-physician relation, which should be based on extensive knowledge of the disease and not only include ENT findings but also broad medical counselling.     

梅尼埃病首发症状的临床分析

目的了解梅尼埃病患者的性别、首发的年龄、症状,并根据首发症状进行临床分类。方法回顾分析准确提供首发症状的145例梅尼埃病患者,按照耳聋和（或）耳鸣（耳蜗症状）、半规管（旋转性眩晕）和耳石器症状（倾到或平衡障碍）进行分类。结果首发症状依次为耳鸣45例、耳蜗加眩晕症状30例、眩晕28例、耳鸣加耳聋27例、听力下降9例、耳石器症状6例。累及耳蜗及前庭系统30例;累及耳蜗81例：累及半规管28例：累及耳石器6例。小于20岁和大于60岁年龄组患者数最少。男性高发年龄较女性高发年龄早10年,男性和女性在30-49岁年龄段发病例数最多。三种类型梅尼埃病临床首发症状与典型症状出现的间隔差异均较大。结论梅尼埃病耳蜗受累明显高于前庭,首发症状耳鸣最常见,其次是听力下降,再次为眩晕,倾倒的出现率最低。对不典型病例的早期诊断酌情选择纯音测听、耳蜗电图、前庭双温试验和前庭诱发的肌源性电位等检查。     

Acute sensorineural hearing loss in 277 outpatient cases]

Subjects were 227 patients with acute sensorineural hearing loss of 17,146 patients seen at our ear, nose, and throat (E.N.T.) outpatient clinic from October 1994 through September 2000. Of these, 45 suffered from profound and moderate idiopathic sudden hearing loss diagnosed when the arithmetical mean of hearing thresholds at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 KHz was 40 dB or worse. Of the 30 patients whose medical treatment was started within 7 days of onset, 18 (60%) showed excellent or complete recovery of hearing, whereas none of the 15 whose treatment was started 8 days or late after onset showed satisfactory improvement. In general, the sooner treatment was started, the better hearing recovered. Idiopathic acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss was found in 111 (49%) patients with a female preponderance at a M:F ratio of 1:2.3, but no gender difference was seen in other diseases. The most common symptom was a feeling of pressure or fullness in the affected ear. Only 16% of patients were aware of their hearing disturbance. Some 73 (66%) showed complete recovery. Meniere's disease was diagnosed in 13, in whom hearing improved in only 2 (15%). Probable Meniere's disease was diagnosed in 9 patients who had 1 definitive episode of vertigo with low-tone sensorineural hearing loss, and their prognosis was good. The prognosis in 7 patients with hearing loss due to acoustic trauma and 1 with psychogenic hearing loss was good, but normal hearing was not restored in 1 with mumps or 1 with acoustic neurinoma. A patient with diabetic nephropathy had low-tone hearing loss and nystagmus toward the affected ear. Attacks of vertigo were controlled by diuretic therapy, but hearing recovery occurred by a little less than 10 dB. Some 35 patients had mild idiopathic hearing loss and prognosis was relatively good. Hearing was disturbed after head injury in 2 and after nose blowing in 1, probably attributable to concussion of the labyrinth or the formation of a perilymphatic fistula. The diagnosis of this condition could not be made with certainty by surgical exploration of the ear.     

Prognosis of low-tone sudden deafness - does it inevitably progress to Meniere's disease?

CONCLUSION: We conclude that not all low-tone sudden deafness (SD) patients suffered from endolymphatic hydrops even if they had vertigo attack at the onset and that electrocochleography (ECochG) was a useful prognostic tool. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether low-tone SD was a precursor of Meniere's disease and whether patients with low-tone SD suffered from endolymphatic hydrops. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective case review in the university hospital. A total of 184 patients with low-tone SD were divided into two groups with single and recurrent episodes. The progress, follow-up audiograms, and ECochG results of the patients were reviewed and compared with those of patients with high-tone SD and Meniere's disease. RESULTS: In all, 83 of 177 patients with low-tone SD unaccompanied by vertigo had recurrent hearing loss; 15 of the 83 developed vertiginous attacks. The remaining 94 patients had a single episode. Three of the seven patients with low-tone SD accompanied by vertigo had recurrent hearing loss; two of the three were subsequently confirmed to have Meniere's disease. The other four had a single episode. No difference in rate of progress from SD to Meniere's disease was observed among the low-tone and the high-tone SD groups. The average -SP/AP of each group with a single episode is smaller than that of other groups with recurrent episodes and Meniere's disease.     

Analysis of audio-vestibular assessment in acute low-tone hearing loss

Conclusion This study demonstrated excellent hearing recovery following the combined treatment of diuretic and oral steroid, and electrocochleography (ECoG) was significantly higher than normal side. This study reports characteristics of acute low-tone hearing loss (ALHL) that show the greater low-tone hearing loss, the higher ECoG, and excellent recovery, even-though low-tone hearing loss is worse, which can be different compared with sudden deafness. Objective To analyze ALHL without vertigo, this study compared the ALHL group with all patients exhibiting low-tone hearing loss and ear fullness. Hearing changes and vestibular functions were analyzed. Materials and methods ALHL was defined as a mean hearing loss of?≥?30?dB at 125, 250, and 500?Hz, and?≤?20?dB at 2, 4, and 8?kHz. From 156 cases of low-tone hearing loss of more than 10?dB without vertigo, 31 met the ALHL criteria and were subjected to audio-vestibular assessments including PTA, ECoG, vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing, and caloric testing. Results In ALHL, low-tone hearing loss was 42.7?±?9.5?dB, and 83.9% of ALHL significantly recovered by more than 10?dB. The ECoG in ALHL was 0.334?±?0.11 (higher than 0.25?±?0.08 on the normal side) and ECoG abnormality was 35.5% (the greater low-tone hearing loss, the higher ECoG value).     

Retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy: a reevaluation

Selective vestibular neurectomy is considered an effective means of relieving intractable vertigo while preserving hearing. In order to determine the effectiveness of the retrolabyrinthine approach to selective vestibular neurectomy, we evaluated 161 patients who underwent vestibular neurectomy between April 1981 and September 1985. Questionnaire responses indicated that 97% of the Meniere's disease patients and 68% of the non-Meniere's disease patients experienced a substantial improvement or resolution of their vertiginous symptoms. Hearing was maintained within 10 dB of the preoperative level in the majority of the patients. Neurological complications were limited to 2 cases of meningitis which resolved with medical therapy, 7 cases of cerebral spinal fluid leaks, and 3 cases of complete sensorineural hearing loss. Based on this review, we concluded that retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy continues to be a safe and effective approach to relieve ear-related vertigo.     

急性低频感音神经性耳聋的临床观察

目的探讨急性低频感音神经性耳聋(acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss,ALHL)的临床特点和疗效,提高对该疾病的诊断和认识。方法回顾性分析62例ALHL患者的临床表现、听力学检查和治疗情况,总结其临床发展规律。结果发病年龄以青中年为主,女性明显多于男性,多为单耳发病,表现为耳闷或伴耳鸣,听力下降,不伴眩晕,所有患者纯音听阈均表现为轻中度低频感音神经性耳聋,治疗前后分别为(38.71±6.82)dB和(20.56±9.44)dB,两者比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。鼓室图"A"型,49例(80.9%)镫骨肌反射引出,40例(64.5%)Metz试验阳性,62例ABR均正常。62例患者治疗前DPOAE在0.5～1 kHz的引出率仅为18.7%,反应幅值明显降低,治疗后DPOAE在0.5～1 kHz的引出率提高至43.8%,幅值亦有所提高。结论 ALHL以突发的耳闷和(或)伴耳鸣为主要表现,常单耳发病,青中年女性为主,听力学定位诊断为蜗性聋,仅累及低频区,皮质类固醇激素治疗有较好的疗效。     

Short-term outcome and prognosis of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss by administration of steroid

Acute low-tone hearing loss (ALHL) is a typical type of hearing loss in Ménière's disease and thought to be caused by endolymphatic hydrops in the inner ear. We treated 40 patients with ALHL by administration of the steroid and the early outcome and prognosis of the hearing level was retrospectively evaluated. The prognosis was generally determined within 7-10 days after administration of steroid. High-dose steroid cured some patients who failed to recover with low-dose steroid therapy. Our results showed that steroid is one of the effective therapies for ALHL and supported that etiology of ALHL involves an immune response.     

梅尼埃病手术方法的选择

为总结选择不同的手术方法治疗梅尼埃病的经验，分析１１９例（１１９耳）采用手术方法治疗的梅尼埃病患者。诊断和疗效评定按１９９６年上海全国会计制定的梅尼埃病诊断依据和疗效分级，在病的分期和劳动能力方面，参照ＡＡＯ－ＨＮＳ９９５年的梅尼埃病的诊断和疗效评价标准分期，第二期４８例均行内淋巴囊分流术，第三期４４例，行Ｓｃａｒｐａ神经节切除术３２例，迷路入路前庭耳蜗神经切断术１２例；第四期２７例，行Ｓｃａｒｐ     

An electrocochleographic study of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss

Summary Twenty-four patients with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) were examined using electrocochleography. The negative summating potential (SP) amplitude and the summating potential/action potential (AP) ratio were significantly greater in the ALHL patients than in normals. The SP/AP ratio was smaller in the ALHL patients than in patients with known Meniere's disease and moderate hearing loss, although the SP amplitude was somewhat greater in the former. An abnormal increase in the SP amplitude following click stimuli was found in 54% of the ALHL patients, while the SP/AP ratio was increased abnormally in 63% of these patients. These findings suggest that the pathophysiology of ALHL may be similar to that for endolymphatic hydrops.     

创伤性圆窗和卵圆窗外淋巴瘘4例报告

目的：探讨创伤性圆窗和卵圆窗外淋巴瘘的诊断和治疗。方法：回顾性分析创伤性圆窗和卵圆窗外淋巴瘘４例,其中,手掌击伤耳部２例,砖头击伤头部１例,中耳手术干扰１例。从发病至手术时间为１．５－９个月,通过头和耳部外伤或中耳手术史,听力和前庭功能检查,最后经鼓室探查确诊;用耳屏软骨岂筋膜修补外淋巴瘘。结果;４例均经手术探查证实并修补,术后眩晕控制听力改善不明显。     

梅尼埃病与偏头痛性眩晕的听-前庭功能比较

目的探讨梅尼埃病与偏头痛性眩晕的听功能及前庭功能状态的不同特点,进行比较分析,为二者的鉴别诊断提供帮助。方法回顾性分析2007年5月至2008年9月山东省立医院眩晕门诊52例梅尼埃病患者与36例偏头痛性眩晕患者的临床资料,全部患者均在急性期或亚急性期行纯音测听、视频眼震电图、冷热试验、前庭诱发的肌源性电位检查,部分梅尼埃病及全部偏头痛性眩晕患者行高刺激率听性脑干反应检查,对二者的听力与前庭功能检查结果进行比较分析。结果梅尼埃病患者共52例,男24例,女28例,年龄14-70岁,平均45.8岁。纯音测听异常52例,均为单侧感音神经性聋。视频眼震电图检查示中枢性异常眼动10例。冷热试验异常37例,均为单侧半规管反应低下。前庭诱发的肌源性电位检查异常31例。行高刺激率听性脑干反应检查共32例,5例异常。偏头痛性眩晕患者共36例,男8例,女28例,年龄16-62岁,平均43.6岁。纯音测听异常9例,均为单侧轻至中度感音神经性聋。视频眼震电图检查示中枢性异常眼动17例。冷热试验异常8例,均为单侧半规管反应低下。前庭诱发的肌源性电位检查异常18例,高刺激率听性脑干反应检查异常22例。经统计学分析,二者纯音测听、中枢性眼动检查、冷热试验及高刺激率听性脑干反应的检查结果差异有显著性。结论与梅尼埃病相比,偏头痛性眩晕患者纯音测听及冷热试验异常较少见,中枢性服动检查及高刺激率听性脑干反应异常率较高。在结合患者病史及临床表现的基础上.以上检查可为二者的鉴别提供辅助参考。     

Intratympanic gentamicin for control of vertigo in Meniere's disease: vestibular signs that specify completion of therapy

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a protocol of weekly intratympanic gentamicin injections administered until development of signs of unilateral vestibular hypofunction can alleviate vertigo while preserving hearing in patients with intractable vertigo caused by unilateral Meniere's disease. STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a prospective investigational protocol. SETTING: The study was performed in outpatients at a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Entry criteria included a diagnosis of "definite" Meniere's disease according to the 1995 report of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), intractable vertigo despite optimal medical therapy, no symptoms suggestive of Meniere's disease in the contralateral ear and serviceable hearing in the contralateral ear. The outcomes of the first 34 patients who entered the protocol are reported. INTERVENTION: A buffered gentamicin solution was injected into the middle ear at weekly intervals until development of spontaneous nystagmus, head-shaking-induced nystagmus, or head-thrust sign indicative of vestibular hypofunction in the treated ear. Main OUTCOME MEASURE: The 1995 AAO-HNS criteria for reporting treatment outcome in Meniere's disease were used. The effects of treatment were assessed in terms of control of vertigo, disability status, hearing level, and quantitative measurement of vestibular function with caloric and rotatory chair tests. RESULTS: Vertigo was controlled in 91% of the patients. Profound hearing loss occurred as a result of gentamicin injection in one patient (3%). Intratympanic gentamicin was significantly less effective in controlling vertigo in patients who had previous otologic surgery on the affected ear. Recurrence of vertigo > or = 6 months after initially complete control was noted in seven patients (22%). Vertigo in six of these patients was eliminated by additional intratympanic gentamicin injections. CONCLUSIONS: Ending weekly intratympanic gentamicin injections when clinical signs of unilateral vestibular hypofunction appear can control vertigo in most patients. Hearing loss directly attributable to gentamicin is uncommon. Treatment outcome is best in patients who have not had previous otologic surgery.