Correlation Analysis between Degree of Endolymphatic Hydrops and Clinical Characteristics in Meniere's Disease

ZHONG Jiake; WANG Baiyang; DONG Hongpeng; YI Haijin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1672-2922.2023.06.002

Abstract：Objective To study the correlation between the degree of endolymphatic hydrops(EH)and clinical characteristics in Meniere's disease(MD)patients.Methods From December 2020 to March 2022,31 MD patients ad-mitted to the Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital were enrolled.Pure tone audiometry(PTA),electrocochleogram(ECochG),tinnitus grading,dizziness handicap inventory(DHI)scale and gadolinium-enhanced MRI data were collect-ed.The degree of vestibular hydrops was assessed by 3D fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence(3D FLAIR)whereas the degree of cochlear hydrops was evaluated by high-resolution 3D real reconstruction inversion recovery se-quence(3D real IR)MRI scans,using the visual quartering method.The correlation between the degree of EH and clini-cal characteristics was analyzed by the Spearman test and Fisher's exact test.Results There was no statistically signifi-cant difference in age,gender,side,or disease duration among patients with varying degrees of EH(P＞0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that the degree of cochlear hydrops was positively correlated to tinnitus grading,low-fre-quency hearing thresholds,average hearing thresholds and disease stage(r=0.517,0.438,0.439 and 0.378,respectively,P＜0.05),but not to ECochG(P＞0.05).The degree of vestibular hydrops was positively associated with the frequency of vertigo attacks(rs=0.361,P＜0.05),although not with the DHI score including physical,emotional,and functional as-pects(P＞0.05).Conclusion Based on gadolinium-enhanced inner ear MRI with different sequences,the degree of EH in MD patients is correlated with hearing,disease stage,frequency of vertigo attacks and tinnitus grading.MRI can be effectively used for clinical diagnosis and evaluation of EH in MD patients.