Menière's disease. Etiologic considerations.

This article explores the evidence for a common vascular pathophysiology for idiopathic Menière's disease and migraine. After retrospectively reviewing 85 cases of Menière's disease, it is concluded that (1) migraine occurs more often in patients with Menière's disease than in the general population, (2) the classic symptoms of Menière's disease can be part of a migraine attack, (3) symptoms of Menière's disease may be associated with a migraine attack without headache (migraine equivalent), (4) treatment for the migraine with methysergide maleate or prednisone may also improve the symptoms of Menière's disease, and (5) prospective studies with adequate follow-up are needed to further investigate this association.