title: Higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases and longer spells of vertigo in patients affected with familial Ménière's disease: A clinical comparison of familial and sporadic Ménière's disease.
abstract: PURPOSE This study compared clinical features, predisposing factors, and concomitant diseases between sporadic and familial Ménière's disease (MD). METHOD Retrospective chart review and postal questionnaire were used. Participants were 250 definite patients with MD (sporadic, n =149; familial, n = 101) who fulfilled the American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (1995) criteria. RESULTS On average, familial patients were affected 5.6 years earlier than sporadic patients, and they suffered from significantly longer spells of vertigo (p = .007). The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (p = .002) and other autoimmune diseases (p = .046) was higher among the familial patients, who also had more migraine (p = .036) and hearing impairment (p = .002) in their families. CONCLUSION The clinical features of familial and sporadic MD are very similar in general, but some differences do exist. Familial MD patients are affected earlier and suffer from longer spells of vertigo.
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hietikko
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorri
authors.forename: Minna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Männikkö
authors.forename: Jouko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kotimäki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult