A case of Meniere's disease with vertical nystagmus after administration of glycerol.

Abstract

A 62-year-old woman who complained of repetitive vertigo with a left fluctuating hearing loss was admitted to our hospital three times. A glycerol test was done on the third admission. Two hours after the administration of glycerol, the patient complained of rotatory vertigo with a downbeat vertical nystagmus. This nystagmus then changed its direction upward. Her left hearing loss was improved during the glycerol test. On the day after the glycerol test, a caloric test was done. The caloric response of the right ear was remarkably improved. Although she had not felt a hearing loss in the right ear, an overwritten audiogram showed a fluctuation of hearing in the right ear. The bilateral caloric responses fluctuated. From these findings, it appears that the function of the inner ear on both sides fluctuating. We speculate that the administration of glycerol elicited an asymmetry in the function of the inner ear on both sides and ocuured vertigo with vertical nystagmus because of the irritation of both ears.

• Authors: K Mizuta, M Furuta, Y Ito, S Sawai, M Fujigaki, M Horibe, H Miyata
• Journal: Auris, nasus, larynx (Auris Nasus Larynx) Vol. 27 Issue 3 Pg. 271-4 (Jul 2000) ISSN: 0385-8146 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 10808118 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Glycerol

Topics

• Audiometry
• Electronystagmography
• Female
• Glycerol (adverse effects)
• Hearing
• Humans
• Meniere Disease (diagnosis, physiopathology)
• Middle Aged
• Nystagmus, Pathologic (chemically induced, diagnosis)