A recent study conducted at Washington University in St. Louis has made significant strides in understanding Meniere’s disease and tailoring treatment approaches to individual patients. Led by Brevin J. Miller and his colleagues, the research aimed to identify the crucial factors influencing treatment responses in Meniere’s disease patients and create a composite clinical severity staging system to aid in more effective care.
Meniere’s disease is a challenging condition characterized by symptoms such as vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. To better understand the factors influencing treatment success, the researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary academic medical center.
Exploring Meniere’s Disease Treatment
They enrolled adult patients newly diagnosed with Meniere’s disease between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, excluding those with previous treatments, prior ear surgeries, or insufficient follow-up data.
Of the 78 patients included in the study, 63% responded positively to conservative therapies, such as dietary modifications and diuretics, while 37% did not. The study revealed that responsive patients exhibited lower vertigo severity (24%), reduced comorbidity burden (27%), and a lower incidence of hearing loss (19%) compared to unresponsive patients.
Clinical Severity Staging System
Based on these findings, the researchers created a three-stage clinical severity staging system: Stage 1, including 11 patients, demonstrated a 100% treatment response rate, while Stage 2, with 56 patients, exhibited a 64% response rate. Stage 3, consisting of 11 patients, showed an 18% treatment response rate.
By focusing on the severity of vertigo, comorbidity burden, and hearing loss, the aim is to allow healthcare providers to be able to deliver more personalized and patient-centered management of Meniere’s disease.
Reference:
- Miller, B.J., Kallogjeri, D., Shew, M.A. and Piccirillo, J.F. (2023), Identifying Predictors of Treatment Response in Meniere’s Disease: A Clinical Severity Staging System. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.486
Source: Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
