AIM: Several authors have described the association between Ménière disease and positional vertigo. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the presence of positional nystagmus and positional dizziness sensation in patients with Menière disease. STUD DESIGN: Clinical prospective. METHOD: 44 patients with definite diagnosis of Menière disease according to clinical and audiologic evaluations (meeting the diagnosis criteria of the American Academy of Otolaryngology) and the confirmation of endolymphatic hydrops by electrocochleography (SP/AP>30%). The research of positional nystagmus was elicited through Brandt-Daroff's maneuver. This examination was considered positive by the presence of the nystagmus and/or dizziness. RESULTS: During the investigation of positional nystagmus, 7 patients (16%) presented nystagmus and dizziness, 23 patients (52.2%) presented dizziness without nystagmus, and the total number of abnormalities was 68.1% (30 patients) in this sample. CONCLUSION: The association between Menière disease and positional vertigo is relevant and its real occurrence will depend on the criteria used in order to define this association. In this paper, both triggering of the nystagmus and the dizzy sensation at Brandt-Daroff's maneuver were considered positive to define the association. The presence of positional vertigo in patients with Menière disease using this methodology was 68%.
Ménière disease; vertigo
