LONGITUDINAL NONINVASIVE PERILYMPHATIC PRESSURE MEASUREMENT IN PATIENTS WITH MENIERES-DISEASE

The homeostasis of inner-ear fluids is essential for the functions of hearing and equilibrium. Inner-ear disorders, such as Meniere's diseas e, are affected by inner-ear pressure. The displacement of the human t ympanic membrane can be studied by means of the MMS-10 Tympanic Displa cement Analyser (Marchbanks Measurement Systems Ltd., UK) and is thoug ht to be a measure for perilymphatic pressure variations. This measure ment was performed in 18 patients with Meniere's disease (20 affected ears) at regular intervals, in order to investigate possible pressure variations in relation to the following symptoms: hearing loss, vertig o, tinnitus and pressure sensation. Symptoms changed independently; ch anges in symptoms were not significantly related to changes in perilym phatic pressure, as measured by means of the MMS-10 analyser.