メニエール病の経過

抄録

Meniere's disease is characterized by recurrent attacks of vertigo. It is difficult to predict the period and severity of the next vertiginous attack or whether the hearing disturbance will increase or not.
Patients with Meniere's disease were questioned about the course of their vertiginous attacks and hearing disturbance, and their responses were analysed.
Eighty cases of Meniere's disease with a duration of one year or more were included in this study.
The diagnosis was based on the criteria of diagnosis of Meniere's disease by Tokita et al. (1975, 1980).
Six different patterns of vertigo were noted:
Type 1: In 6 cases, definite severe attacks at long intervals changed to mild attacks at short intervals.
Type 2: In 16 cases, attacks occurred seasonelly once or twice every year.
Type 3: In 12 cases, the severity of attacks gradually decreased.
Type 4: In 18 cases, the attacks recurred frequently from the time of onset.
Type 5: In 7 cases, there was a single definite attack followed by bursts of attacks at irregular intervals.
Type 6: In 11 cases, isolated vertiginous attacks recurred irregularly at long intervals.
Hearing disturbances were also classified into 6 types.
In some cases, Meniere's disease was preceded by TIA, OD, Vestibular Meniere's disease, sudden deafness, or Lermoyez's syndrome.
These findings helped to evaluate the effect of medical treatment and to estimate the prognosis of Meniere's disease.