Furosemide loading vestibular evoked myogenic potential for unilateral Ménière's disease

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether endolymphatic hydrops in Ménière's Disease could be diagnosed by comparing vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) before and after furosemide administration (F-VEMP).

Study design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University hospital.

Intervention: Furosemide administration.

Patients: Twenty-five affected ears of patients with unilateral Ménière's Disease were studied. The patients had received confirmed diagnoses Ménière's Disease; thus, the presence of endolymphatic hydrops was suggested. For the control, 22 ears of 11 normal healthy volunteers who had never had vertigo or hearing disturbance were used.

Main outcome measure: The amplitude of the p13-n23 biphasic wave before and after furosemide administration.

Results: The amplitude of the p13-n23 biphasic wave was significantly enlarged in 7 of 18 cases in which it could be detected before diuretic loading. The biphasic waves appeared after diuretic loading in 3 of 7 cases in which it could not be recorded before loading. Thus, the positive ratio of F-VEMP for unilateral Ménière's Disease was considered to be 40% (10 of 25). The ratio was similar to that of the conventional examinations for endolymphatic hydrops such as the glycerol test, furosemide test, and electrocochleogram.

Conclusion: The F-VEMP test may be useful in the diagnosis of endolymphatic hydrops.