Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection as a Cause of Meniere's Disease in a Young Population: A Case Series.

IMPORTANCE

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common cause of prenatal infection and the leading infectious cause of sensorineural hearing loss in childhood. Novel data indicate vestibular impairment is common in children with cCMV infection. Associations between endolymphatic hydrops and cCMV infection in humans are under debate, research reports are still scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To highlight a potential subgroup of Meniere's disease in young individuals and to support previous findings of recurrent vestibular impairment in children with cCMV infection.

DESIGN

A retrospective descriptive study of a clinical case series.

SETTING

Skåne University Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital and Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with confirmed cCMV infection who presented with symptoms of Meniere's disease with onset before the age of 25. Patients were identified during routine clinical evaluations.

INTERVENTION: Data were collected from performed vestibular testing, hearing evaluations and imaging results. Vestibular function was assessed with caloric testing and the video head impulse test. Data from medical records were supplemented with updated information obtained from medical interviews.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: cCMV infection with recurrent or newly developed vestibular impairment and sensorineural hearing loss in one or both ears.

RESULTS

Twelve patients aged 15 to 41 years, with confirmed cCMV infection met the inclusion criteria. Six patients experienced the onset of Meniere's symptoms between 10 and 12 years of age, 4 patients between 16 and 23 years old, and 2 with hearing loss since childhood, developed Meniere's disease from 30 years of age.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: cCMV infection may represent a distinct subgroup of endolymphatic hydrops and Meniere's disease in young individuals. These findings highlight the importance of considering cCMV testing in young patients presenting with symptoms of endolymphatic hydrops.