The Role of Allergy in Meniere's Disease

Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder characterized by vertigo, in which you feel as though you or your surroundings are spinning; fluctuating hearing loss; tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing in the ear; and a feeling of fullness in the ear, says Dr. Timothy Hain, professor of neurology, otolaryngology and physical therapy/human movement science at Northwestern University Medical School in Illinois.

While the cause is still unknown, recent research has found a link between Meniere's disease and allergies.

Causes

• A rupture in the inner ear may cause Meniere's disease.

  Meniere's disease may be caused, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), by a rupture of the membranous labyrinth, a part of the inner ear. This rupture allows a fluid called endolymph to mix with perilymph, another inner ear fluid, resulting in the symptoms of Meniere's disease.

  What causes the rupture is still under investigation, but may include noise pollution, viral infections or biological factors, such as allergies.

The Immune System Response

• Normally harmless pet dander could trigger an immune response in those with allergies.

  When the immune system reacts to a foreign substance, allergies may occur, according to the Mayo Clinic. The immune system produces IgE antibodies, which protect you from foreign substances that could cause illness or infection. With allergies, the immune system reacts to the harmless allergen as though it's dangerous, triggering a release of histamine and other substances.

  Allergens include pollen, animal dander, dust mites or mold; certain foods like nuts, wheat, shellfish, eggs and milk; insect stings; medications; and latex or other materials. Symptoms can involve the skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system and can range from minor to anaphylaxis, the life-threatening closing off of airways.

The Endolymphatic Sac

• The endolymphatic sac, a part of the inner ear, is capable of generating its own immune response to allergens, according to Dr. Jennifer Derebery of the House Ear Clinic and Institute in Los Angeles.

  Derebery, in research findings published in the "Otolaryngol and Head Neck Surgery" journal in 1996, suggests a past viral infection that may have slightly impaired the endolymphatic sac, which holds endolymphatic fluid, in combination with adulthood allergies may cause the sac to further decompensate, allowing fluid to leak and mix with other inner ear fluids, causing the symptoms of Meniere's disease.

Treatment for Allergies

• A 1997 study by Derebery in the "Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America" journal showed that a significant number of patients with both Meniere's disease and allergies demonstrated improvement in tinnitus and vertigo when they received treatment for their specific allergies.

  In 2000, Derebery's study in the "Otolaryngol and Head Neck Surgery" journal showed that a group of Meniere's patients treated for allergies had improved tinnitus and vertigo compared to a control group of untreated patients.

  Both studies indicate that the inner ear may be a target of an allergic reaction.

Other Treatment

• Treating the allergic component of some Meniere's symptoms may also alleviate tinnitus and vertigo, Derebery's 1997 and 2000 studies show. For those without an allergy component, states NIDCD, administering the ototoxic antibiotic, gentamycin, directly into the middle ear space seems to be effective in controlling vertigo caused by Ménière's disease. Reducing fluid retention through changes in diet (e.g., cutting out salt, caffeine and alcohol) may alleviate symptoms as well. Surgery is reserved for those with persistent and debilitating vertigo and has various risks such as hearing loss.