Are Meniere’s disease patients with otolith organ impairment more likely to have balance dysfunction?

Abstract

Background: Patients with Meniere’s disease (MD) may present with peripheral vestibular end organ dysfunction and balance dysfunction.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the results of vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) tests with those of the sensory organization test (SOT) in patients with MD to determine whether they are correlated.

Material and methods: In total, 132 patients with unilateral MD were evaluated using an audiometric test, the SOT, a caloric test and VEMP tests.

Results: Cervical VEMP and ocular VEMP tests were conducted in 132 patients with MD, and the response rates of the affected side were lower than those of the unaffected side. The composite score, C5^ES, and C6^ES of the SOT were significantly decreased in patients with no VEMP responses compared to those with VEMP responses.

Conclusions and significance: MD patients with no VEMP responses are more likely to develop balance impairment than those with VEMP responses. MD patients with otolith organ impairment may therefore have balance disorders, and should exercise caution to prevent falls and subsequent injuries.

背景：梅尼埃病（MD）患者可能患有外周前庭终器功能障碍和平衡功能障碍。

目的：比较MD患者前庭诱发肌源性电位（VEMP）与感觉组织试验（SOT）的结果, 探讨两者之间的相关性。

材料与方法：对132例单侧MD患者进行听力测试、SOT、热量测试和VEMP测试。

结果：对132例MD患者进行了颈部VEMP和眼部VEMP检查, 患侧的有效率低于未患侧。与有VEMP反应的患者相比, 无VEMP反应的患者的SOT的综合评分、C5^ES 和C6^ES 显著降低。

结论与意义：无VEMP反应的MD患者比有VEMP反应的ND患者更易发生平衡障碍。患有耳石器官损害的MD患者可能因此出现平衡障碍。他们应特别小心, 以防跌倒和受伤。

Keywords:

• Meniere’s disease
• sensory organization test
• vestibular evoked myogenic potential

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This project has received funding from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81870724 and No. 81700915) and Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (Grant No. 201740018).