Molecular genetic studies of familial Meniere's disease

Dear Editor.Meniere’s disease (MD,MIM 156000),a chronic clinical illness affecting the inner ear,presents as episodes of spontaneous vertigo,fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss,tinnitus,and aural fullness.Endolymphatic hydrops in the cochlear duct and vestibular organs is considered the underlying histopathologic characteristic of MD.Most MD cases are sporadic (sporadic Meniere’s disease,SMD),and approximately 4%-20%of patients with MD have a familial history.Familial Meniere’s disease (FMD) is defined as the clinical symptoms of at least one patient’s relative (first-or