Ménière's disease is a viral neuropathy

ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2009;71(2):78-86. doi: 10.1159/000189783. Epub 2009 Jan 10.

Abstract

Morphological and clinical evidence supports a viral neuropathy in Ménière's disease (MD). Quantitative examination of 11 sectioned temporal bones (TBs) from 8 patients with a history of MD revealed a significant loss of vestibular ganglion cells in both the endolymph hydropic (EH) and non-EH ears. Transmission electron microscopy of vestibular ganglion cells excised from a patient with MD revealed viral particles enclosed in transport vesicles. Antiviral treatment controlled vertigo in 73 of 86 patients with vestibular neuronitis (85%) and 32 of 35 patients with MD (91%).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Endolymphatic Hydrops / pathology
  • Endolymphatic Hydrops / virology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meniere Disease / pathology*
  • Meniere Disease / virology*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Middle Aged
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Spiral Ganglion / pathology
  • Spiral Ganglion / virology
  • Vestibular Neuronitis / pathology*
  • Vestibular Neuronitis / virology*
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth / pathology
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth / virology