Middle Ear Pressure in Patients with Dizziness

Abstract

The middle ear pressure was analyzed in 112 patients with dizziness. In 37 patients with Meniere's disease, the middle ear pressure on the low-pressure side was significantly lower, the middle ear pressure difference (between the high and low sides) was significantly larger, and the maximum compliance on the low-compliance side was significantly lower than in normal volunteers. The middle ear pressure difference was significantly larger during periods of dizziness or recurrent dizziness than at the time of remission. In patients with Meniere's disease, a middle ear pressure difference of more than 50 decapascals was significantly more common among those with abnormal blood gas levels than among those with normal blood gas levels. In 27 patients with cervical vertigo and 15 patients with vertebrobasilar insufficiency, the middle ear pressure difference was also significantly larger than in normal volunteers. These results suggest that the middle ear pressure difference might be closely related to dizziness in Meniere's disease and less closely related in cervical vertigo or vertebrobasilar insufficiency. The middle ear pressure difference might also be related to abnormal blood gas levels in patients with dizziness.