MENIERES SYNDROME INHERITED AS AN AUTOSOMAL DOMINANT TRAIT

Brown in 1941 reported on five families having two members with Meniere's syndrome. In 1949 she reported on three siblings (children of first cousins) and two identical twins bearing the syndrome. Bernstein in 1965 reported on seven families having two or more members afflicted by the symptoms. All these reports showed association between Meniere's syndrome and migraine headaches. None provided detailed pedigree studies in order to clarify the mode of genetic transmission. We report on a father, three daughters, and one son with typical Meniere's syndrome and paroxysmal headaches. The pedigree strongly suggests autosomal dominant transmission. After studying this family we have been paying close attention to family histories of Meniere's syndrome patients. It is not at all uncommon to hear about other members of the family with the syndrome, but it is difficult to document all of the cases for logistical reasons.