The Furosemid Test for Menière's Disease

Abstract

In a previous report it was suggested that intravenous administration of furosemid followed by a comparative caloric test (the furosemid test) could be utilized for detection of endolymphatic hydrops (Kitahara et al., 1973). As a result of the further application of the furosemid test upon 161 patients with vertigo, positive results were observed in 80 % of patients with typical Menière's disease, 6 % of atypical Menière's disease, 42 % with labyrinthine syphilis and 27 % with sudden deafness. In patients with labyrinthitis, results were negative. It is thus concluded that the furosemid test provides positive evidence for determining the etiology of vertigo.