The association of antidiuretic hormone levels with an attack of Meniere's disease.

OBJECTIVES

An elevation of the plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels has frequently been observed in Meniere's disease patients. However, little is known regarding the mechanism behind such an elevation of ADH level in Meniere's disease patients. Therefore, we measured the plasma ADH in Meniere's disease patients and other vertigo patients to elucidate the association between the ADH levels, stress levels and the development of Meniere's symptom.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

The plasma ADH levels and plasma osmotic pressure were determined in 23 definite Meniere's disease patients and 160 patients with other types of vertigo/dizziness. All participants were administered questionnaire regarding their psychological status including their stress levels.

RESULTS

The ADH levels of Meniere's disease patients in the acute phase (5.80 +/- 1.37 pg/mL) were significantly higher in comparison with that of Meniere's disease patients in the remission phase (2.26 +/- 0.41 pg/mL) (P < 0.05). In other peripheral vertigo patients, the ADH level in the acute phase (1.71 +/- 0.23 pg/mL) was not significantly different from that in the remission phase (1.45 +/- 0.15 pg/mL). Meniere's disease patients in the acute phase had a significantly higher stress score (114 +/- 23) than Meniere's disease patients in the remission phase (56 +/- 13) (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between their stress score and the ADH levels.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the elevation of the plasma ADH levels in Meniere's disease patients in the acute phase is, therefore, associated with the pathogenesis of Meniere's disease attacks rather than with stress.