Evaluation of treatment of meniere's disease by isosorbide

In an attempt to reduce endolymphatic hydrops, Isosorbide (ISO) has been adminstered to patients with definite Meniere's disease since the beginning of the 1980s in our departments. Followup studies of two years or longer on 19 patients were available for analysis according to the 1985 AAO-HNS evaluation criteria. 1) Vertigo: Complete control of definite attacks was achieved in seven patients (37%), substantial control in five (26%) and limited control in four (21%). 2) Hearing loss: The three frequency pure-tone average at 500 Hz, 1 KHz and 2 KHz was utilized for the assessment of the hearing level. Hearing improved in five patients (26%), was unchanged in seven and deteriorated in seven. 3) Disability: 14 patients (74%) were improved, while five (26%) were unchanged. These findings suggest that ISO is one of the most appropriate conservative treatment for disabling Meniere's disease.