Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (745 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
An accumulation of endolymph in the inner ear (labyrinth) leading to buildup of pressure and distortion of intralabyrinthine structures, such as cochlea and semicircular canals. It is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss; tinnitus; and sometimes vertigo.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Hydrops, Endolymphatic.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Labyrinth Diseases
- Narrower topics
- Meniere Disease
- See also
- Meniere Disease; Transtympanic Micropressure Treatment
Related concepts
- Endolymph
- Labyrinth
- Cochlea
- Semicircular Canals
- Sensorineural Hearing Loss
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 8,579 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Endolymphatic Hydrops” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 1,102 of them (12.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 4,864 records.
Reviews account for 873 records (10.2%) and meta-analyses for 66. Randomized controlled trials number 101 (1.2%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 4,864 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,210 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,403 |
| 2020 onward | 1,102 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 873 | 10.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 66 | 0.8% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 101 | 1.2% |
Method: PubMed query "Endolymphatic Hydrops"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in eye, ear, nose and throat
Eye, hearing, nose and throat studies rely on specialist tests (visual acuity, eye pressure, audiograms, scopes) and on patient-reported symptoms, which vary between people and with age. Some conditions improve without treatment, so comparison groups matter. Nothing on this page is advice about diagnosis or treatment; sudden loss of sight or hearing needs urgent care from a qualified clinician. Check how the outcome was tested, the age of the people studied and how long they were followed.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The value of four stage vestibular hydrops grading and asymmetric perilymphatic enhancement in the diagnosis of Menière's disease on MRI | 2019 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 171 | cc by PMID 30719545 · DOI · PMC6431299 |
| Proinflammatory cytokines and response to molds in mononuclear cells of patients with Meniere disease | 2018 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 88 | cc by PMID 29654306 · DOI · PMC5899176 |
| Inner ear pathologies impair sodium-regulated ion transport in Meniere's disease | 2019 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 77 | cc by PMID 30390121 · DOI · PMC6513907 |
| Immunological mechanisms in Meniere's disease | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 14 | cc by PMID 40936890 · DOI · PMC12420328 |
The value of four stage vestibular hydrops grading and asymmetric perilymphatic enhancement in the diagnosis of Menière's disease on MRI [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeThere is still a clinical-radiologic discrepancy in patients with Menière's disease (MD).
- Closing excerpt
- A four-stage vestibular EH grading system in combination with cochlear PE assessment gives the best diagnostic accuracy to detect MD.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (178 words)
PurposeThere is still a clinical-radiologic discrepancy in patients with Menière's disease (MD). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of current MRI endolymphatic hydrops (EH) criteria according to Baráth in a larger study population and the clinical utility of new imaging signs such as a supplementary fourth low-grade vestibular EH and the degree of perilymphatic enhancement (PE) in patients with Menière's disease (MD).MethodsThis retrospective study included 148 patients with probable or definite MD according to the 2015 American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery criteria who underwent a 4-h delayed intravenous Gd-enhanced 3D-FLAIR MRI between January 2015 and December 2016. Vestibular EH, vestibular PE, cochlear EH, and cochlear PE were reviewed twice by three experienced readers. Cohen's Kappa and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis.ResultsThe intra- and inter-reader reliability for the grading of vestibular-cochlear EH and PE was excellent (0.7 ConclusionsMRI using vestibular-cochlear EH and PE grading system is a reliable technique. A four-stage vestibular EH grading system in combination with cochlear PE assessment gives the best diagnostic accuracy to detect MD.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30719545 · DOI · PMC6431299
Proinflammatory cytokines and response to molds in mononuclear cells of patients with Meniere disease [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Epidemiological studies have found a higher prevalence of allergic symptoms and positive prick tests in patients with Meniere's disease (MD); however the effect of allergenic extracts in MD has not been established.
- Closing excerpt
- The results indicate that a subset of MD patients have higher basal levels of proinflammatory cytokines and the exposure to Aspergillus and Penicillium extracts may trigger additional TNF-α release and contribute to exacerbate inflammation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (193 words)
Epidemiological studies have found a higher prevalence of allergic symptoms and positive prick tests in patients with Meniere's disease (MD); however the effect of allergenic extracts in MD has not been established. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect of Aspergillus and Penicillium stimulation in cytokine release and gene expression profile in MD. Patients with MD showed higher basal levels of IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-6 and TNF-α when compared to healthy controls. We observed that IL-1β levels had a bimodal distribution suggesting two different subgroups of patients, with low and high basal levels of cytokines. Gene expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) showed significant differences in patients with high and low basal levels of IL-1β. We found that both mold extracts triggered a significant release of TNF-α in MD patients, which were not found in controls. Moreover, after mold stimulation, MD patients showed a different gene expression profile in PBMC, according to the basal levels of IL-1β. The results indicate that a subset of MD patients have higher basal levels of proinflammatory cytokines and the exposure to Aspergillus and Penicillium extracts may trigger additional TNF-α release and contribute to exacerbate inflammation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29654306 · DOI · PMC5899176
Inner ear pathologies impair sodium-regulated ion transport in Meniere's disease [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Meniere's disease (MD), a syndromal inner ear disease, is commonly associated with a pathological accumulation of endolymphatic fluid in the inner ear, termed "idiopathic" endolymphatic hydrops (iEH).
- Closing excerpt
- Overall, we have identified for the first time two inner ear pathologies that are consistently present in MD and can be directly linked to the pathogenesis of EH, and which potentially affect the phenotypical presentation of MD.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (197 words)
Meniere's disease (MD), a syndromal inner ear disease, is commonly associated with a pathological accumulation of endolymphatic fluid in the inner ear, termed "idiopathic" endolymphatic hydrops (iEH). Although numerous precipitating/exacerbating factors have been proposed for MD, its etiology remains elusive. Here, using immunohistochemistry and in situ protein-protein interaction detection assays, we demonstrate mineralocorticoid-controlled sodium transport mechanisms in the epithelium of the extraosseous portion of the endolymphatic sac (eES) in the murine and human inner ears. Histological analysis of the eES in an extensive series of human temporal bones consistently revealed pathological changes in the eES in cases with iEH and a clinical history of MD, but no such changes were found in cases with "secondary" EH due to other otological diseases or in healthy controls. Notably, two etiologically different pathologies-degeneration and developmental hypoplasia-that selectively affect the eES in MD were distinguished. Clinical records from MD cases with degenerative and hypoplastic eES pathology revealed distinct intergroup differences in clinical disease presentation. Overall, we have identified for the first time two inner ear pathologies that are consistently present in MD and can be directly linked to the pathogenesis of EH, and which potentially affect the phenotypical presentation of MD.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30390121 · DOI · PMC6513907
Immunological mechanisms in Meniere's disease [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Meniere's disease (MD) is a chronic, relapsing inner ear disorder characterized by episodes of vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness.
- Closing excerpt
- By integrating recent immunological advances with clinical management strategies, we underscore the potential of immune guided approaches to transform the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care of patients with MD.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (177 words)
Meniere's disease (MD) is a chronic, relapsing inner ear disorder characterized by episodes of vertigo, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and aural fullness. Although its etiology has long remained elusive, accumulating evidence implicates immune dysregulation as a central contributor to disease pathogenesis, particularly in patients who do not respond to standard therapies. This review synthesizes current insights into the immunopathological mechanisms underlying MD, focusing on the roles of both innate and adaptive immune cells-including macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells-in promoting inflammation, endolymphatic hydrops, and sensory dysfunction. We examine the contribution of these immune cells to tissue damage, along with the roles of cytokine signaling and immune complex deposition. Emerging immunotherapies, including corticosteroids, biologics, and inflammasome inhibitors, are evaluated for their therapeutic potential. The review also highlights promising directions in precision medicine, such as immune profiling, biomarker discovery, and stratified clinical trials aimed at personalizing treatment. By integrating recent immunological advances with clinical management strategies, we underscore the potential of immune guided approaches to transform the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care of patients with MD.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40936890 · DOI · PMC12420328
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Diagnostic criteria for Menière's disease [5]
- Research article Meniere's disease [6]
- Research article Meniere's disease [7]
- Research article Clinical Practice Guideline: Ménière's Disease [8]
- Research article Neurotology of migraine [9]
- Research article What is Menière's disease? A contemporary re-evaluation of endolymphatic hydrops [10]
References
- Bernaerts A, Vanspauwen R, Blaivie C, van Dinther J, Zarowski A, Wuyts FL, et al.. The value of four stage vestibular hydrops grading and asymmetric perilymphatic enhancement in the diagnosis of Menière's disease on MRI. . 2019. PMID 30719545 · DOI · PMC6431299
- Frejo L, Gallego-Martinez A, Requena T, Martin-Sanz E, Amor-Dorado JC, Soto-Varela A, et al.. Proinflammatory cytokines and response to molds in mononuclear cells of patients with Meniere disease. . 2018. PMID 29654306 · DOI · PMC5899176
- Eckhard AH, Zhu M, O'Malley JT, Williams GH, Loffing J, Rauch SD, et al.. Inner ear pathologies impair sodium-regulated ion transport in Meniere's disease. . 2019. PMID 30390121 · DOI · PMC6513907
- Yuan VG, Xia A, Santa Maria PL. Immunological mechanisms in Meniere's disease. . 2025. PMID 40936890 · DOI · PMC12420328
- Lopez-Escamez JA, Carey J, Chung WH, Goebel JA, Magnusson M, Mandalà M, et al.. Diagnostic criteria for Menière's disease. J Vestib Res. 2015. PMID 25882471 · DOI
- Sajjadi H, Paparella MM. Meniere's disease. Lancet. 2008. PMID 18675691 · DOI
- Nakashima T, Pyykkö I, Arroll MA, Casselbrant ML, Foster CA, Manzoor NF, et al.. Meniere's disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016. PMID 27170253 · DOI
- Basura GJ, Adams ME, Monfared A, Schwartz SR, Antonelli PJ, Burkard R, et al.. Clinical Practice Guideline: Ménière's Disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020. PMID 32267799 · DOI
- Baloh RW. Neurotology of migraine. Headache. 1997. PMID 9439080 · DOI
- Gürkov R, Pyykö I, Zou J, Kentala E. What is Menière's disease? A contemporary re-evaluation of endolymphatic hydrops. J Neurol. 2016. PMID 27083887 · DOI · PMC4833790
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.