Correlation Between The Levels Of Estrogen And Auditory And Vestibular Functions In Post-menopausal With Peripheral Vertigo

ObejectiveTo investigate the correlation between the levels of estrogen and high stimulus rate auditory brainstem response test, and auditory and vestibular functions in post-menopausal with Meniere’s Disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.Materials and MethodsTook43patients with Meniere’s Disease and56patients benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in post-menopausal women as experimental group Ⅰ and Ⅱ and another30post-menopausal healthy women as control group, they were determined the levels of estrogen and pure tone audiometry,and were performed a high stimulus rate auditory brainstem response test (ABR) and bithermal caloric test.Results:1. The mean level of E2was significantly lower in the experimental group MD than that in the control group(P<0.05). The mean level of high stimulus rate ABR was significantly higher in the experimental group MD than that in the control group(left ear: P<0.05; right ear:P<0.05). The mean level of unilateral weakness was significantly higher in the experimental group MD than that in the control group(P<0.01). The mean level of average hearing threshold was significantly higher in the experimental group MD than that in the control group(left ear P<0.01; right ear.P<0.01). E2level in experimental group MD was negativily correlated with its high stimulus rate ABR level (left r=-0.229, P<0.05;right r=-0.220, P<0.05), E2level in experimental group was negativily correlated with its unilateral weakness level (r=-0.328, P<0.05), E2level in experimental group MD had no correlated with its average hearing threshold.2. The mean level of E2was significantly lower in the experimental group BPPV than that in the control group(P<0.05). The mean level of high stimulus rate ABR was significantly higher in the experimental group BPPV than that in the control group(left ear: P<0.05; right ear:P<0.05).The mean level of unilateral weakness was no significantly deference in the experimental group BPPV than that in the control group(P>0.05). The mean level of average hearing threshold was no significantly deference in the experimental group than that in the control group(P>0.05). E2level in experimental group BPPV was negativily correlated with its high stimulus rate ABR level (left r=-0.149, P<0.05;right r=-0.197, P<0.05), E2level in experimental group had no correlated with its unilateral weakness level and its average hearing threshold.Conclusion1. The present work suggested that the decrease of estrogen level might be lead to microcirculatory ischemia of the inner ear.2. Estrogen level was positivily correlated with vestibular function. Estrogen affected occurrence and development of Meniere’s Disease in post-menopausal to some extent.3. The decrease of estrogen level might be lead to microcirculatory ischemia of the inner ear with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and this may be the one of the factors.