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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
The cause of Meniere's disease isn't well understood. It appears to be the result of the abnormal volume or composition of fluid in the inner ear.
The inner ear is a cluster of connected passages and cavities called a labyrinth. The outside of the inner ear is made of bone (bony labyrinth). Inside is a soft structure of membrane (membranous labyrinth) that's a slightly smaller, similarly shaped version of the bony labyrinth. The membranous labyrinth contains a fluid (endolymph) and is lined with hair-like sensors that respond to movement of the fluid.
In order for all of the sensors in the inner ear to function properly, the fluid needs to retain a certain volume, pressure and chemical composition. Factors that alter the properties of inner ear fluid may help cause Meniere's disease. Scientists have proposed a number of potential causes or triggers, including:
- Improper fluid drainage, perhaps because of a blockage or anatomic abnormality
- Abnormal immune response
- Allergies
- Viral infection
- Genetic predisposition
- Head trauma
Because no single cause has been identified, it's likely that Meniere's disease is caused by a combination of factors.
- Schessel DA, et al. Meniere's disease and other peripheral vestibular disorders: Vertigo lasting minutes to hours. In: Cummings CW, et al. Cummings: Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/190360996-4/0/1263/1291.html?tocnode=49546577&fromURL=1291.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50146-5--cesec3_5425. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Meniere's disease. American Hearing Research Foundation. http://www.american-hearing.org/disorders/menieres-disease/. Accessed March 15, 2010.
- Meniere's disease. American Academy of Otolaryngology. http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/menieresDisease.cfm. Accessed March 19, 2010.
- Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Meniere's disease. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 1995;113:181.
- Hamed S, et al. Meniere's disease. Lancet. 2008;372:406.
- Dinces EA, et al. Meniere's disease. http://www.uptodatecom/home/index.html. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Heart attack, stroke and cardiac arrest warning signs. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3053. Accessed March 21, 2010.
- Meniere's disease. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch086/ch086f.html?qt=meniere's%20disease&alt=sh. Accessed March 21, 2010.
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