Meniere's disease: Pathogenesis, treatments, and emerging approaches for an idiopathic bioenvironmental disorder

Masoud Mohseni-Dargah; Zahra Falahati; Christopher Pastras; Khosro Khajeh; Payal Mukherjee; Amir Razmjou; Sebastian Stefani; Mohsen Asadnia

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116972

Meniere's disease: Pathogenesis, treatments, and emerging approaches for an idiopathic bioenvironmental disorder

Environ Res. 2023 Dec 1;238(Pt 1):116972. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116972. Epub 2023 Aug 28.

Authors

Masoud Mohseni-Dargah¹, Zahra Falahati², Christopher Pastras³, Khosro Khajeh⁴, Payal Mukherjee⁵, Amir Razmjou⁶, Sebastian Stefani⁷, Mohsen Asadnia⁸

Affiliations

¹ School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, Iran.
³ School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; The Meniere's Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
⁵ RPA Institute of Academic Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales 2007, Australia.
⁷ School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
⁸ School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. Electronic address: mohsen.asadnia@mq.edu.au.

PMID: 37648189
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116972

Abstract

Meniere's disease (MD) is a severe inner ear condition known by debilitating symptoms, including spontaneous vertigo, fluctuating and progressive hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness or pressure within the affected ear. Prosper Meniere first described the origins of MD in the 1860s, but its underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive today. Nevertheless, researchers have identified a key histopathological feature called Endolymphatic Hydrops (ELH), which refers to the excessive buildup of endolymph fluid in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. The exact root of ELH is not fully understood. Still, it is believed to involve several biological and bioenvironmental etiological factors such as genetics, autoimmunity, infection, trauma, allergy, and new theories, such as saccular otoconia blocking the endolymphatic duct and sac. Regarding treatment, there are no reliable and definitive cures for MD. Most therapies focus on managing symptoms and improving the overall quality of patients' life. To make significant advancements in addressing MD, it is crucial to gain a fundamental understanding of the disease process, laying the groundwork for more effective therapeutic approaches. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the pathophysiology of MD with a focus on old and recent theories. Current treatment strategies and future translational approaches (with low-level evidence but promising results) related to MD are also discussed, including patents, drug delivery, and nanotechnology, that may provide future benefits to patients suffering from MD.

Keywords: Bioenvironmental factors; Contents; Meniere's disease; Nanotechnology; Pathophysiology; Potential treatments.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Endolymphatic Hydrops* / diagnosis
Endolymphatic Hydrops* / etiology
Humans
Meniere Disease* / diagnosis
Meniere Disease* / therapy
Otolithic Membrane