The furosemide VOR test for Menière's disease. A preliminary report.

In order to easily detect endolymphatic hydrops and to avoid the side effects, we applied a furosemide VOR test in 24 patients with unilateral Meniere's disease, 6 patients with delayed endolymphatic hydrops, and 2 patients with labyrinthine syphilis. Immediately preceding an i.v. injection of 20 mg furosemide, and then 30, 60, 90 min after the administration, the VOR test was repeatedly performed. The slow-phase velocity in the VOR test was measured during harmonic sinusoidal rotation with eyes closed. Increased or decreased VOR-DP% beyond the normal range (10%) was referred to as positive. In 13 out of 24 cases (54%) with Menieres's disease, positive results were observed. Moreover, 4 out of 6 (67%) with delayed endolymphatic hydrops, one case out of 2 with labyrinthine syphilis were also positive in the furosemide VOR test. From these clinical investigations, we have concluded that the furosemide VOR test appeared to be another type of clinical test for the detection of vestibular endolymphatic hydrops.