Ear Fullness and Endolymphatic Hydrops

• Published in: Equilibrium Research Vol. 62; no. 6; pp. 569 - 574
• Main Authors: Takeda, Noriaki, Tsuji, Miyuki, Nishiike, Suetaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Society for Equilibrium Research 2003
• Subjects: ear fullness; endolymphatic hydrops; low-tone deafness; Meniere disease
• ISSN: 0385-5716; 1882-577X
• DOI: 10.3757/jser.62.569

Between 1993 and 1995, 178 patients complaining of fullness of the ear visited our clinic. Of these, 24 were found to have low-tone sensorineural hearing loss. Glycerol test revealed positive/ pseudopositive results in 20 of these 24 cases. Of these, 15 cases were followed up more than 3 years. Average hearing level at low-tone (125 Hz, 250 Hz and 500 Hz) in the 24 hearing-impaired patients were 34.0 dB. Clinical symptoms and low-tone sensorineural hearing loss of all patients were improved by isosorbide or betamethasone. The subjects who had temporary hearing impairment at 4, 000 Hz or 8, 000 Hz had significantly higher risk of recurrence. One findings suggested that low-tone deafness with a chief complaint of ear fullness is caused by endolymphatic hydrops. Prognosis may be dependent on the extent rather than the degree of the impairment in the inner ear. Prompt treatment and follow-up is important for patients who complain ear fullness, because some of them may progress to Meniere disease in the future.