Loss of peripheral vestibular function. Twenty cases of Dandy's syndrome.

Dandy's Syndrome initially provokes dizziness and vertigo. Later on patient s suffer from motion unsteadyness especially in dark surroundings and from oscillopsies. Gentamicin is ototoxic mostly for the vestibular part of the inner ear, and it is nephrotoxic. It may cause transitory renal dysfunction . Chronic or acute renal insufficiencies inhibit gentamicin clearance. Pati ents: Among 20 cases we found 15 who had previously been treated with amino glycosides (13 with gentamicin and two with streptomycin), Ten of our patie nts showed symptoms of preexistant chronic nephrosis or of transitory renal insufficiency caused by gentamicin therapy. In all 13 cases, peripheral ve stibular function was destroyed or severely damaged by antibiotic. The same patients had no hearing loss. Conclusions: The different reactions of the cochlear and the vestibular end organs support the theoretical basis for tr anstympanic gentamicin treatment of Meniere's disease. - Other reasons for Dandy's Syndrome were bilateral Meniere's disease, skull fractures, and bil ateral vestibular disorders.