[Pathophysiological aspects of therapeutic procedures in Menière's disease (author's transl)].

Meniére's disease is a nosologic entity. Its underlying pathophysiological mechanism is based on a disturbance of the quantitative correlation between peri- and endolymph volume on the one side and on a qualitative disorder of sodium and potassium concentration in the inner ear fluids on the other, resulting in a disregulation of osmotic pressure within the labyrinth. However, a critical review of the current literature as well as personal observations confirm that at the present time the scientific basis of a causal therapy is still lacking. Hence, both conservative and surgical treatment of Menière's disease does not allow to cure the cause but only some of the symptoms.