title: Dexamethasone perfusion of the labyrinth plus intravenous dexamethasone for Ménière's disease.
abstract: Recent clinical and laboratory evidence indicates that Meniere's disease is an immune-mediated disease. Dexamethasone perfusion of the inner ear through the round window plus intravenous dexamethasone often will stop the dizzy spells, reduce the fullness and low-frequency tinnitus, and sometimes improve the hearing in patients with Meniere's disease. The dexamethasone must act mostly on the endolymphatic sac and, to a lesser extent, on the stria vascularis and spiral ligament, the known targets of immune response in the inner ear, to reduce the endolymphatic hydrops and restore the fluid dynamics of the endolymph. Despite the good results with streptomycin perfusion, the number of patients with further hearing loss is large, so dexamethasone perfusion with intravenous dexamethasone should be tried first. The initial response to dexamethasone perfusion plus intravenous dexamethasone has been very good, with very little risk of further hearing loss, and it holds great promise for the future.
authors.affiliation: Shea Clinic, Memphis, Tennessee 38119, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003053:Cochlear Duct / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000188:drug therapy; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000187:drug effects*; D004710:Endolymph / Q000187:drug effects; D004712:Endolymphatic Sac / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D010477:Perfusion; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013316:Stria Vascularis / Q000187:drug effects; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013307:Streptomycin