Cell and gene therapies in Menière's disease: perspectives for a slowly progressive inner ear disease

Menière's disease (MD) is classically understood as a pressure-related disease of the inner ear; however, new histopathologic and imaging findings call for reassessment of this model. The current article focuses on new aspects of MD pathophysiology and derives innovative causal treatment approaches for the future based on cell and gene therapy....

No actionable clinical change at this time — cell and gene therapies for Menière's disease remain experimental; this review maps the research landscape but offers no ready-to-implement guidance.

Emerging cell and gene therapy approaches, combined with a rethinking of Menière's disease pathophysiology, could eventually shift treatment away from purely symptomatic management toward disease-modifying strategies.

1. 01Review reassesses the classic endolymphatic hydrops (fluid pressure) model of Menière's disease using new histopathologic and imaging evidence.
2. 02Cell and gene therapies are evaluated as potential future treatments for this slowly progressive condition.
3. 03New inner ear imaging findings are challenging long-held assumptions about how Menière's disease develops.
4. 04The article frames Menière's disease as a candidate for molecular and regenerative intervention if disease mechanisms are clarified.
5. 05No approved cell or gene therapy for Menière's disease currently exists.

PMID

42307737

DOI

10.1007/s00106-026-01771-z.

Journal

HNO

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Literature/evidence base on Menière's disease patients and relevant cell/gene therapy research

Intervention

Cell and gene therapies for Menière's disease