title: Time course of episodes of definitive vertigo in Meniere's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency and duration of episodes of definitive vertigo in Ménière's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective longitudinal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple tertiary referral centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred ten individuals from 8 hospitals that met the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery diagnostic criteria for definitive Ménière's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conservative treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency and duration of episodes of definitive vertigo during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ménière's disease affects both sexes and both ears equally, with onset generally in the fourth decade of life. The number of episodes of vertigo is greater in the first few years of the disease. Although episodes of vertigo that last longer than 6 hours are less frequent than shorter episodes, they occur with similar frequency throughout the natural course of the disease. The percentage of patients without episodes of vertigo increases as the disease progresses, and 70% of patients who did not have an episode of vertigo for 1 year will continue to be free of episodes during the following year. Thus, there is a relationship between the frequency of episodes in consecutive years, although this association decreases rapidly as the number of years increases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of definitive episodes of vertigo in Ménière's disease decreased during follow-up, and many individuals reached a steady-state phase free of vertigo.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otoneurology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Passeig de la Sequia 12, 46111 Rocafort, Valencia, Spain. perez_her@gva.es
authors.forename: Herminio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perez-Garrigues
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lopez-Escamez
authors.forename: Paz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orts
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barona
authors.forename: Mari C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aran
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cenjor
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Constantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morera
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome