Meniere's disease

The diagnosis of Meniere's disease is generally accepted, when attacks of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus and fullness in the ear are described. In some cases a longterm follow-up is necessary before one can diagnose Meniere's disease based upon various views of this disease with possible monosymptomatic incipient stage and frequent changes of the intensity of the symptoms. The pathologic correlate of the symptoms is an enlarged endolymphatic space. The occurrence of Meniere's attack is explained by rupture of the membranous labyrinth. Then the endolymphatic hydrops is drained and perfuses the perilymphatic space with toxic potassium. Conservative and surgical kinds of treatment are presented.