Electrophysiological and biochemical findings in four cases of Meniere's disease.

In 4 cases of Meniere's disease, E.P., concentrations of Na, K, Cl, and protein, and osmolality were determined in endolymph from the basal coil of the cochlea. In 3 cases, endolymph was found normal in nature as compared with normal animals. In one long-standing (11 years) case, a strial dysfunction was evidenced. In 2 cases, the surgical treatment consisted in the mere withdrawal of endolymph. This resulted in the transitory aggravation of the hearing loss. This observation might suggest that, at the considered stages of the disease: 1) hearing loss is not related to the excess of fluid; 2) the rate of endolymph production averages 0.35 microliter per day; 3) the water displacement induced by the glycerol test concerns rather perilymph than endolymph; 4) any pharmacological or surgical therapy aiming at reducing the excess of endolymph is unlikely to succeed as far as hearing is concerned.