Ménière’s disease and chronic cerebrovascular diseases

Abstract

Ménière’s disease (MD) is an idiopathic inner ear disease, which is characterized by noise in the ears, periodic attacks of vertigo and the development of sensorineural hearing loss. MD is characterized by endolymphatic hydrops – an increase in the volume of endolymph that fills the membered labyrinth of the inner ear. Currently highlighted subtypes MD. The first subtype meets most often and is characterized by classical manifestations of MD. The second subtype is characterized by the development of sensorineural hearing loss, to which only after a long time are joined by the episodes of dizziness. The third subtype of MD includes family cases of the disease. The fourth and fifth subtypes of MD is observed in patients with migraine and autoimmune diseases. The diagnosis of definite MD is based on the 2 or more spontaneous episodes of vertigo with each lasting 20 minutes to 12 hours, low-to medium-frequency sensorineural hearing loss in one ear, fluctuating aural symptoms (fullness, hearing, tinnitus) located in the affected ear, and lack of data for other reasons for dizziness. There are no effective treatment for auditory disorders MD, therapy is aimed at preventing dizziness attacks. The first line of MD’s therapy includes a dietary salt restriction, the use of betahistine and diuretics. Betahistine (Betaserc) is usually used in a daily dose of 48 mg for 3–6 months to reduce the frequency of vertigo. For long-term treatment, it is convenient to use a betahistine modified-released (Betaserc Long) 48 mg, taken once a day. With the ineffectiveness of conservative therapy, other methods of therapy are possible: intratympanic administration of corticosteroids or gentamicin, labyrinthectomy or vestibular neurectomy. Unfortunately, many patients suffering from BM mistakenly makes a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, vertebrobasilar insufficiency, cervical osteochondrosis. Diagnostic errors are usually caused by the fact that the patients with MD are not conducted audiometry, vestibular tests, and the signs of cerebral microangiopathy identified when MRI brain are mistakenly regarded as confirmation of vascular dizziness genesis.