Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ménière's disease (MD) is composed of a set of fluctuating symptoms, whereby vertigo is the most unpleasant among them and often accompanied by deterioration of the balance system. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to objectively assess the Romberg and Unterberger-Fukuda tests by ultrasound-computer-craniocorpography (US-COMP-CCG) in patients suffering from MD and to characterize the balance disorders in different frames of MD. METHODS: This is a case-control study where 51 patients with normal vestibular system and 42 patients suffering from definite MD were examined by US-COMP-CCG. They were divided into three grades according to the attack rates and the complaints of the patient during the attack-free periods. RESULTS: Parameters of significance showing the worsening of the balance system with the aggravation of the disease are seen in both tests. In the standing test, the longitudinal and lateral sway and the forehead covering values are of importance, whereas in the stepping test, the parameter of relevance is the lateral sway. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of worsening of the balance system, based on the objective results of the system parameters, are parallel to the worsening of MD based on our findings.