EFFECTS OF GLYCEROL ON THE PRESSURE DIFFE RENTIAL BETWEEN INTRACOCHLEAR AND INTRACRANIAL FLUIDS IN NORMAL INDIVIDUALS AND PATIENTS WITH MENIERES-DISEASE

The cochlear aquaeduct is a route for direct pressure transfer between intracranial and intracochlear fluids. In patients with Meniere's dis ease, intracochlear pressure is presumably disturbed. The ''Tympanic M embrane Displacement Analyser (TDA)'' is a new system which provides a useful noninvasive method of detecting intracranial and intracochlear pressure changes. Patients: In this study TDA measurements in combina tion with a glycerol test were performed in nine patients with Meniere 's disease and in seven normal persons. Results: Before ingestion of g lycerol, no significant difference in pressure was found between the t wo groups. After ingestion of glycerol a temporary decrease in intraco chlear pressure was detected in both groups without any significant di fference between the two groups. Conclusion: These results show that t he combination of glycerol testing and TDA measurements does not seem to be helpful for the differential diagnosis of Meniere's disease.