Diagnostic significance of furosemide VOR test for detection of endolymphatic hydrops

A Furosemide VOR test was performed on 41 patients with typical Meniere's disease, 21 with atypical Meniere's disease, 13 with delayed endolymphatic hydrops and 6 with syphilitic labyrinthitis. Twenty-five of the 41 patients (61%) with typical Meniere's disease were evaluated as being abnormal by this test. Even more patients (91%) were judged to be abnormal when results of the furosemide VOR test were combined with those of the glycerol dehydration test or transtympanic electrocochleography, which suggests that a combination of these tests may be useful in diagnosing endolymphatic hydrops of typical Meniere's disease. Twelve of the 21 patients (57%) with atypical Meniere's disease showed abnormal results in both the furosemide VOR test and caloric test. Eight of 13 patients (62%) with delayed endolymphatic hydrops and 3 of 6 (50%) with syphilitic labyrinthitis also had positive results. These findings suggest that this test may be useful for checking endolymphatic hydrops of the vestibular system of the inner ear not only for typical Meniere's disease but also for dizziness.