Value of VEMP in Detecting Saccular Affection in the Asymptomatic Ear in Patients with Ménière’s Disease,HEDAYAT EL-FOULY, MOHAMAD S. EL-MINAWI and TAREK EL-DESSOUKI
Abstract
Aim: To assess the value of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) in detecting abnormalities in the affected ear and in the asymptomatic ear in patients with diagnosed unilateral Ménière’s disease.
Study Design: Case-control.
Material and Methods: Twenty two patients with unilateral Ménière’s disease and twenty two age and sex matched normal controls were subjected to audiological evalution and VEMP. The selection of individuals was based on the history and/or clinical evaluation suggestive of unilaterally defined Ménière’s disease. VEMP's were evaluated in both ears of all cases and controls through absolute latencies of p13 and n23.
Results: VEMP's were absent in 50% of the affected ears and in 27.3% of the asymptomatic ears of Meniere patients, whereas all normal subjects had preserved VEMP's. Prolon-gation of both p13 and n23 latency was noted in in both ear of unilateral Meniere patients compared to normal group (p=<0.001 and 0.007 respectively).
Conclusion: The vestibular evoked myogenic potentials can detect abnormalities in the affected and asymptomatic ears in patients with diagnosis of unilaterally defined Ménière’s disease.