Causes

The cause of Meniere's disease is unknown. Symptoms of Meniere's disease appear to be the result of an abnormal amount of fluid (endolymph) in the inner ear, but it isn't clear what causes that to happen.

Factors that affect the fluid, which might contribute to Meniere's disease, include:

• Improper fluid drainage, perhaps because of a blockage or anatomic abnormality
• Abnormal immune response
• Viral infection
• Genetic predisposition

Because no single cause has been identified, it's likely that Meniere's disease results from a combination of factors.