Diagnosis of Endolymphatic Hydrops on MR Imaging

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Magnetic Resonance imaging in Meniere Disease (MD) – developing a clinical pathway

• IRAS ID

  279287

• Contact name

  Raul Simon

• Contact email

  raul.simon@live.com

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottigham

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  22NS007, R&D reference number

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 4 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Menière's disease (MD) is a very debilitating condition diagnosed in patients presenting with the symptoms of hearing loss, vertigo/dizziness and tinnitus. It is present in around 200 to 500 per 100,000 people. It results in loss of balance and hearing in one, or both ears (in up to 40% of sufferers). In practice, the diagnosis is made by taking the patient history. There is no blood test or scan that can tell us if a person has MD. 
Diagnosis can be challenging due to the variation in symptoms seen in patients, the variability of symptom progression and the lack of a definitive test for the disease.
The proposed cause for the disease is endolymphatic hydrops (EH), which is an excessive accumulation of fluid in the inner ear.
  The use of MRI to identify MD is currently not used outside of a research setting. There is much variation in technique between different centres and the results variable. There are centres internationally that are able to determine with good accuracy whether a patient has MD based on MR images. We aim to use our own MR equipment and utilise new techniques to replicate these good-quality images and therefore be able to identify increased fluid in the inner ear characteristic of MD.
  This will allow us to add more diagnostic certainty to patients who present with symptoms of MD, or even diagnose MD in patients that show very early signs of the disease. This would allow us to start treatment early and would also allow us to use more definitive treatment. Other diagnoses could also be considered if the scan was normal. Only one visit to Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, for two MRI scans is required from participants.The diagnostic benefit is for future patients, and diagnostic information would not be provided during the study

• REC name

  West of Scotland REC 5

• REC reference

  22/WS/0139

• Date of REC Opinion

  6 Oct 2022

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion