Meniere's Disease and Fibrositis Syndrome (Psychogenic Rheumatism): Relationship in Audiometric and Nystagmographic Results

A prospective neuro-otological study concerning 30 cases of fibrositis syndrome (psychogenic rheumatism, PR) and 30 age-matched normal controls was made and a retrospective study concerning 33 cases of Meniere's disease (MD) diagnosed and followed-up, examined between 1965 and 1982. Results showed: sensorineural hearing loss at low frequencies in all early stages of MD and in 10/30 of PR; hyperacusis (pain threshold below 100 dBHL bilaterally for all frequencies) without other sign of recruitment in 73.3 % of PR and in 314 cases of MD where it was measured (discomfort or vertigo due to noise was noted retrospectively in 16/33 of early stages of MD); hyperreactivity of per-rotatory nystagmus in 53.3% of PR without neurological or peripheral vestibular lesions and, with or without vestibular unilateral lesions, in 39.9% of MD. None of the controls showed hyperacusis, hyperreactivity of per-rotatory nystagmus or deafness at low frequencies.