Analysis of cortisol and other stress-related hormones in patients with Ménière's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cortisol and catecholamine levels in patients with Ménière's disease.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Thirty patients with Ménière's disease and 18 healthy controls.


METHODS
Serum and saliva cortisol, serum cortisol after the dexamethasone suppression test, urine free cortisol, and urine catecholamines.


RESULTS
The serum and saliva cortisol levels were higher in Ménière's patients compared with their control group: 440 +/- 127 (n = 28) versus 366 +/- 90 (nmol/L) (n = 18) and 17.2 +/- 6.1 (n = 18) versus 11.6 +/- 4.6 (nmol/L) (n = 9), respectively. Both differences were significant (p < 0.05). There were no dissimilarities in urine cortisol or urine catecholamines for either group. Twenty-eight Ménière's patients were divided into two subgroups, namely, high- and low-cortisol groups, using a serum cortisol level cutoff point of 465 nmol/L (median). The total Ménière's disease time and the duration of tinnitus tended to be longer in the high-cortisol group (p = 0.07, two-tailed). The total Ménière's disease time was 13.5 +/- 9.9 years in the high-cortisol group and 7.1 +/- 7.4 years in the low-cortisol group (n = 14 for both). The subgroups were matched for age, gender, and unilaterally or bilaterally affected ears.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with Ménière's disease have higher serum cortisol levels. It is suggested that these higher cortisol levels are rather the result than the cause of this chronic disease, because patients affected longer seem to have higher cortisol levels. The exact impact of these higher cortisol levels on the inner ear and endolymph homeostasis is yet unknown.
van Cruijsen
Nynke
N
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. n.van.cruijsen@kno.umcg.nl
Dullaart
Robin P F
RP
Wit
Hero P
HP
Albers
Frans W J
FW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004710:Endolymph / Q000502:physiology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine