Ménière's disease is a viral neuropathy.
Morphological and clinical evidence supports a viral neuropathy in Ménière's disease (MD). Quantitative examination of 11 sectioned temporal bones (TBs) from 8 patients with a history of MD revealed a significant loss of vestibular ganglion cells in both the endolymph hydropic (EH) and non-EH ears. Transmission electron microscopy of vestibular ganglion cells excised from a patient with MD revealed viral particles enclosed in transport vesicles. Antiviral treatment controlled vertigo in 73 of 86 patients with vestibular neuronitis (85%) and 32 of 35 patients with MD (91%).
Gacek
Richard R
RR
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. gacekr@ummhc.org
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018159:Endolymphatic Hydrops / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D020338:Vestibular Neuronitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology