Higher Prevalence of Autoimmune Diseases and Longer Spells of Vertigo in Patients Affected With Familial Ménière's Disease: A Clinical Comparison of Familial and Sporadic Ménière's Disease

Abstract

PURPOSE This study compared clinical features, predisposing factors, and concomitant diseases between sporadic and familial Ménière's disease (MD). METHOD Retrospective chart review and postal questionnaire were used. Participants were 250 definite patients with MD (sporadic, n =149; familial, n = 101) who fulfilled the American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (1995) criteria. RESULTS On average, familial patients were affected 5.6 years earlier than sporadic patients, and they suffered from significantly longer spells of vertigo (p = .007). The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (p = .002) and other autoimmune diseases (p = .046) was higher among the familial patients, who also had more migraine (p = .036) and hearing impairment (p = .002) in their families. CONCLUSION The clinical features of familial and sporadic MD are very similar in general, but some differences do exist. Familial MD patients are affected earlier and suffer from longer spells of vertigo.

Clinical Characteristics of Bilateral Meniere's Disease in a Single Asian Ethnic Group

“…4,6,29,30 Genetic predispositions are likely to be associated with autoimmunity and migraines in patients with MD, which shows a higher prevalence in patients with BMD. 5,31 Our results are not similar to these results from Caucasian populations (Table IV); the prevalence of familial MD and vestibular migraine are not higher in BMD than in patients with UMD. Recent studies with large European and Asian populations reported that the frequency of BMD was not higher in patients with familial MD than in those with sporadic MD.…”

“…A higher prevalence of familial MD in patients with BMD has been reported, and immune‐related genes, such as allelic variants of TLR10, polymorphisms of PTPN22, and the HLA‐DRB*1101 allele, have been identified as candidates for causing BMD in several studies . Genetic predispositions are likely to be associated with autoimmunity and migraines in patients with MD, which shows a higher prevalence in patients with BMD . Our results are not similar to these results from Caucasian populations (Table ); the prevalence of familial MD and vestibular migraine are not higher in BMD than in patients with UMD.…”

Genetic aspects and clinical characteristics of familial meniere's disease in a South Korean population

“…The clinical features that were significantly different between the sporadic and familial MD in this study were the age of onset and prevalence of migraines. These findings are also common in Caucasian populations, as reported in other studies . Although the age of onset was significantly earlier in definite familial MD patients than in sporadic cases, it was not significantly different between familial MLS and sporadic cases ( P = .05).…”

“…These findings are also common in Caucasian populations, as reported in other studies. 10,11,17 Although the age of onset was significantly earlier in definite familial MD patients than in sporadic cases, it was not significantly different between familial MLS and sporadic cases (P 5.05). However, the P value for significance was borderline, but may have been significant if a larger patient pool were enrolled.…”

Current Understanding and Clinical Management of Meniere's Disease: A Systematic Review

“…33,34 Autoimmune MD Animal studies demonstrated the induction of antibodies production by the inner ear, giving further evidence that the endolymphatic sac has an immune function. 35,36 Human studies have demonstrated the presence of autoantigens against the inner ear, both in MD and in autoimmune inner ear disease. Regarding MD, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the appearance of autoimmune responses in the inner ear, including the appearance of cross-reactions with shared epitopes between inner ear proteins and microbial proteins, the induction of damage associated with sustained high levels of cytokines and chemokines, or the presence of immunogenic factors producing a persistent inflammatory response in the inner ear.…”