Subjective visual vertical in acute attacks of Meniere\u27s disease.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether or not and how often there is otolith dysfunction in an acute attack of Meniere\u27s disease. PATIENTS: Twenty-two definite cases of unilateral Meniere\u27s disease diagnosed in accordance with the 1995 criteria of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery for Meniere\u27s disease. INTERVENTION: Subjective visual vertical (SVV) test was performed before, at, and after acute attacks on 22 patients with unilateral Meniere\u27s 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 Meniere\u27s 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 Meniere\u27s disease. CONCLUSION: Otolith dysfunction occurred in acute attacks in a considerable number of patients with Meniere\u27s disease. Subjective visual vertical can be used as a good tool for the evaluation of otolith dysfunction at acute attacks in patients with Meniere\u27s disease