[Lermoyez syndrome--electrocochleographic studies].

BACKGROUND

Lermoyez's syndrome is usually regarded as a rare variant of Menière's disease with hearing improvement and reduction of tinnitus during vertiginous attacks. Electrocochleographic studies of this syndrome are restricted to one published case up to now.

METHODS

In our ENT department we clinically and electrocochleographically examined three patients suffering from Lermoyez's syndrome. These results were compared to those typically found in Menière patients.

RESULTS

Two of the three patients did not show an elevated summating potential or increased ratio of summating potential and compound action potential (SP/CAP ratio). There was no hearing improvement following oral glycerol administration, and the SP/CAP ratio did not change during a Lermoyez attack. On the other hand, we observed normal cochlear microphonics in ears affected by Lermoyez's syndrome, indicating good hair cell function. In one ear, the threshold of cochlear microphonics was even better than the pure tone threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Our observations suggest that endolymphatic hydrops may not be always the underlying pathologic correlate of Lermoyez's syndrome. Thus Lermoyez's syndrome should not be simply regarded as a variant of Menière's disease.