title: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo associated with Meniere's disease: epidemiological, pathophysiologic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the demographic, pathogenetic, and clinical features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) associated with Meniere's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of patients with BPPV associated with Meniere's disease were reviewed. In all patients, results of a complete otolaryngological, audiological, and neurotologic evaluation, including nystagmography, were available. Patients with idiopathic BPPV were used as a control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine patients with both disorders were found and were compared with 233 patients with idiopathic BPPV. The patients with BPPV associated with Meniere's disease presented the following features, in which they differed from the patients with idiopathic BPPV: 1) a higher percentage of female patients; 2) a longer duration of symptoms; 3) common involvement of the horizontal semicircular canal; 4) a greater incidence of canal paresis; and 5) more therapeutic sessions needed for cure and a higher rate of recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BPPV associated with Meniere's disease differs from idiopathic BPPV in regard to several epidemiological and clinical features, may follow a different course, and responds less effectively to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tzanion General Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Balatsouras
authors.forename: Panayotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ganelis
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aspris
authors.forename: Nicolas C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moukos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koukoutsis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D065635:Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009759:Nystagmus, Pathologic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014717:Vertigo / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests