Inhalant allergy and Meniere's disease: Use of electrocochleography and intranasal allergen challenge as investigational tools.
BACKGROUND
In an earlier study, we demonstrated the feasibility of using electrocochleography (ECoG) to document changes in inner ear function objectively after intranasal challenge of patients with inhalant allergy (with no prior immunotherapy) and Meniere's disease, using the antigen to which they were most sensitive.


OBJECTIVE
We expand on this earlier study and continue to investigate the feasibility of this model in a subset of patients with inhalant allergy and Meniere's disease after immunotherapy.


METHODS
Prospective study of 11 patients identified with both Meniere's disease and inhalant allergy in the practices of 2 neurotologists at our institution. Patients underwent a baseline ECoG, followed by intranasal challenge with the allergen to which they were most sensitive. This was followed by a second ECoG.


RESULTS
Six of 11 patients had at least 1 year of immunotherapy (group 1), and 5 of 11 had had 0 to 6 months of immunotherapy (group 2). Four of 6 group 1 patients had a >15% increase in SP/AP ratio after immunotherapy. In group 2, 2 patients increased the SP/AP in at least 1 ear. No patient with a normal ECoG experienced vestibular symptoms after allergen challenge, whereas 2 of group 1 and 2 of group 2 had vestibular symptoms with abnormal ECoGs.


CONCLUSIONS
This protocol is a useful tool for investigating the relationship of inhalant allergy and Meniere's disease, but needs a larger group of patients and further study to draw valid statistical conclusions.
Noell
C A
CA
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Roland
P S
PS
Mabry
R L
RL
Shoup
A G
AG
D000485:Allergens; D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000485:Allergens