The value of gadolinium‐enhanced MRI in predicting the development of sudden hearing loss into Ménière's disease

Abstract Objective To compare the clinical features of sudden hearing loss (SHL) in patients with and without endolymphatic hydrops (EH), and to investigate the association between SHL with EH and Ménière's disease (MD). Methods The clinical data of 63 SHL patients with first symptoms were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were separated into two groups based on the results of gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: EH and non‐EH groups. Independent sample t ‐test and U ‐test were used to compare groups for continuous variables, and the chi‐squared test, corrected chi‐squared test and Bonferroni correction test were used to compare groups for binary and ordinal variables. The binary logistic regression model was utilised for univariate and multivariate analysis of follow‐up patient prognosis. Results The EH and non‐EH groups contained 32 and 31 patients, respectively. The EH group had a higher prevalence of low‐tone descending hearing loss. Fifty‐one patients were followed for more than 2 years. In the EH group, 11 and 15 patients were diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and MD, respectively, while in the non‐EH group, 24 patients were diagnosed with SSNHL and only one with MD. EH, low‐tone descending hearing loss and vertigo were risk factors for the diagnosis of MD in a subgroup univariate regression analysis of patients experiencing SHL. EH was found to be a risk factor for the progression of SHL into MD in a multifactor regression analysis. Conclusions Patients with SHL who have EH are more likely to present with low‐tone descending hearing loss. EH is a risk factor for the subsequent development of MD.