title: Endogenous ouabain in Ménière's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endogenous Ouabain (EO) has been demonstrated to modulate the activity of Na+, K+ -ATPase. Our purpose was to measure plasma levels of EO in Ménière's Disease (MD) subjects as a possible predisposing factor to developing and maintaining hydrops.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine MD subjects and 29 controls with a lifetime negative history for vertigo and dizziness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of EO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma EO in MD subjects was in the range between 33 and 504 pmol/L (median, 135.5 pmol/L), whereas in the control group, plasma EO varied between 70 and 724 pmol/L (median, 205 pmol/L). The Mann-Whitney U test detected a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low plasma levels of EO have been proposed to augment Na-K pump activity, whereas high EO levels show an inhibitory effect on the pump activity. A proper pump activity may be necessary to keep the right ionic amount and osmolarity in endolymph. Although other possibilities may be considered, we suggest that altered control mechanisms of pump activity may be related to the pathogenesis and maintenance of MD.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, IRRCS San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. teggi.roberto@hsr.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teggi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zagato
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delli Carpini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Messaggio
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Casamassima
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lanzani
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Manunta
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bussi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010042:Ouabain / Q000097:blood*; D018579:Patient Selection; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014717:Vertigo / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain