Hearing and dizziness in patients with definite meniere's disease after the long term use of diuretics

Objective: We attempted to identify the effects of diuretics administered for over a year to patients with Meniere's disease. Materials and Methods: Retrospective reviews about 27 patients with Meniere's disease. Diuretics were maintained for more than a year with sodium restriction. Results: The patients were allocated based on follow-up duration to; a 2-year (n=27), a 4-year (n=15), a 6-year (n=10), and an 8-year (n=6). Pure tone audiogram thresholds were available for 6 months before treatment and for 2, 4, 6, and 8 years. Dizziness was analyzed at all time points using dizziness handicap inventory. Hearing improved in 33.3% of 2-year group, 26.7% of 4-year group, 20% of 6-year group, and in 16.7% of the 8-year group. Initial hearing was preserved in 59.3%, 63.3%, 50%, and 16.7% in each group. Hearing was preserved or improved in 70-92 % of 2, 4, and 6-year groups, but 4 patients (66.7%) showed aggravation in 8-year group. The differences of total, functional, emotional and physical DHI scores were statistically almost significant. Conclusion: Long term treatment with diuretics was effective in controlling dizziness. Diuretic therapy for over 1 year showed hearing preservation or improvement in about 85% of subjects at 2-6 years.