A Study of Patients with Meniere's Disease with Negative -SP on Elecrrocochleogram

Abstract

It is widely held that the electrocochleogram of the patient with Meniere's disease is characterized by increased -SP. The view that the increased -SP reflects the existence of endolymphatic hydrops is considered vital today. However, there are some typical cases of Meniere's disease in which increased -SP is not noted. We studied 44 patients of Meniere's disease and conducted electrocochleographic examination in order to determine whether there are any differences between those who had increased -SP and those who did not.
The following results were obtained.
1. No difference was noted in the nature of dizziness or in the length of the period from the vertigenous attack to the day of the examination.
2. Many of those whose course of the disease is longer than one year and shorter than five years, had positive -SP.
3. No difference was found in the degree of hearing loss.
4. Both positive and negative -SP's were observed in all types of hearing loss.
5. The equilibrium examination revealed no definite difference between these two groups.
From the above, we concluded that clinically there was no definite difference between the positive and negative -SP cases. This proves that electrocochleographic examination, which is considered to be vitally conductive to the diagnosis of the condition of Meniere's disease, fails to provide definite clue to the diagnosis of Meniere's disease. In our view it is appropriate to diagnose Meniere's disease on the bases of anamnesis, hearing and equilibrium examinations and electrocochleographic examination should be made to evaluate the existence of the endolymphatic hydrops.