[studies on the Correlation between Thyroid Function and M'eni'ere's Syndrome].

The author investigated clinically the correlation between thyroid function and Meniere's syndrome. The results are, on the whole, as follows: 1) As the results of thyroid function tests such as serum protein-bound-iodine (P.B.I.), radioactive iodine (I131) uptake of the thyroid gland (24 hour method), basal metabolic rate (B.M.R.), blood cholesterol, and the enlargement of the thyroid gland on 50 cases of Meniere's syndrome (Typical 25 cases and atypical 25 cases), the hypofunction of the thyroid gland was seen in 52% of typical cases and 44% of atypical cases. 2) The typical 25 cases of Meniere's syndrome have shown a tendency that many patients in the hypofunction group of the thyroid gland, had generally shown slender type, allergic constitution, hypotension, instability of autonomic nervous system, and anaemia; also, u tendency that many of them have shown CP at the time of caloric test or the slight tendency of reversibility of paroxysmal vertigo. 3) Between the group of hypothyroidism and normal group, no difference of thyroid function was found through the duration of sickness (the duration from the beginning of sickness to the time of clinical function test). In general, a tendency has been seen that the thyroid function had declined slightly in the period of parexysm rather than in the quiet period. 4) After giving proper doses of thyradin for 12 cases among the hypothyroid group of Menere's syndrome, the author recognized the effective rate of 66.6% for vertigo, 36.4% for tinnitas, 33.3% for hard of hearing, 66.7% for headache, or heavy feeling in the head, 62.5% for shoulder stiffness, and 71.4% for general languor respectively. 5) As a result of vestibular function test and hearing test on 10 cases of primary myxedema, which is the typical hypothyroid sickness, only slight disorder of vestibular function and hearing ability in half the number was seen. There was no case which could be diagnosed as the typical Meniere's syndrome. 6) According to the results of T.S.H. test carried out on 9 cases of the hypothyroid group of Meniere's syndrome, the author came to the conclusion that the lowering of the thyroid function might be secondary caused mainly by factor of hypophysis. The abovementiond results show that the thyroid function is always closely related with the complicated clinical picture of this syndrome as a general, background factor. In order to understand various clinical pictures of Meniere's syndrome, the author asserts that it might furnish much information in investigations of functions of various endocrine glands including the thyroid function. It seems clinically significant that the medical treatment of this syndrome, which hitherto has been apt to be focalised only to the local symptomatic therapy, should be done from the general point of view.