Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the hyper-responsiveness of cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) in patients with Meniere’s disease (MD) , and to compare the result of cVEMP between probable and definite MD group.
Methods
A total of 110 patients satisfied with “Definite” and “Probable MD” criteria, which is recently formulated by the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society, were included. An inter-peak amplitude and interaural amplitude difference (IAD) ratio of both ears was measured. The abnormal response of ipsi-lesional cVEMP was categorized into two groups; “hyper-response” and “hypo-response”. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis.
Results
In the “Probable MD” and “Definite MD” group, the mean IAD was 25.24±17.79% and 53.82±34.98% , respectively (p<0.01). The abnormal response of cVEMP at the affected ear was more frequent in the “Definite MD” group, compared to the “Probable MD” group (32/40 vs. 13/36, p<0.01). However, hyper-response was more frequently observed in the patients with “Probable MD” , compared to the patients with “Definite MD” (13/36 vs. 3/40, p<0.01).
Conclusion
Hyper-response of cVEMP was more frequently observed in the early “probable MD” patients. It might be an early sign of MD, related with the saccular hydrops, which can help the early detection and treatment.

• Keywords: Meniere’s disease; VEMP; saccular hydrops