Subjective visual vertical in acute attacks of Ménière's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether or not and how often there is otolith dysfunction in an acute attack of Ménière's disease.

PATIENTS: Twenty-two definite cases of unilateral Ménière's disease diagnosed in accordance with the 1995 criteria of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery for Ménière's disease.

INTERVENTION: Subjective visual vertical (SVV) test was performed before, at, and after acute attacks on 22 patients with unilateral Ménière's disease who showed normal tilts of SVV before acute attacks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Abnormal tilts of SVV.

RESULTS: Of 22 cases, 14 (63.6%) with unilateral Ménière's disease showed abnormal tilts of SVV in acute attacks. The tilts were toward the side of the affected ear in 13 (92.9%) of them. Abnormal tilts returned to normal within a few weeks after the acute attacks in 12 (85.7%) of the 14 cases with unilateral Ménière's disease.

CONCLUSION: Otolith dysfunction occurred in acute attacks in a considerable number of patients with Ménière's disease. Subjective visual vertical can be used as a good tool for the evaluation of otolith dysfunction at acute attacks in patients with Ménière's disease.