[Extratympanic electrocochleography in Ménière's disease].
BACKGROUND
Electrocochleography is the registration of an electrophysiological event which takes place in the cochlea after an acoustical stimulus. Most of the authors consider an increased summating potential (SP)/action potential (AP) ratio as characteristic of endolymphatic hydrops.


METHODS
A longitudinal, prospective study of a unilateral Ménière's population diagnosed according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery classification was carried out. A complete clinical history and bedside examination were performed, in addition to complete auditory and vestibular testing and an extratympanic electrocochleography. We selected 20 normal hearing subjects with no history of vestibular and otological pathology as a control group.


RESULTS
Of the 100 patients included in the study, 62 were diagnosed as definite Ménière's disease, and 13 and 25 as probable and possible Ménière's disease, respectively. In the electrocochleography, 85% of all the patients had an SP/AP ratio above 0.5. A sensibility of 92%, 78% and 75% was obtained in the definite, probable and possible Ménière's disease patients respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrocochleography is a useful method for diagnosing and evaluating patients with Ménière's disease syndrome. It provides information about the progression of the process and shows a significant correlation with the clinical stage.
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Madrid, España. emartinsanz@gmail.com
Eduardo
E
Martín-Sanz
Jonathan
J
Esteban Sánchez
Manuel
M
González Juliao
Christiane
C
Zschaeck Luzardo
Teresa
T
Mato Patino
Laura
L
Rodrigañez Riesco
Ricardo
R
Sanz Fernández
D001300:Audiometry, Evoked Response; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests