Effectiveness of Intratympanic Steroid Treatment for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Introduction:

Sudden severe hearing loss (SSHL) is equally common in men and women. The main causes of the SSHL maybe: vascular; virus; immunological; stress reaction etc. Currently, steroids (SD) consider the most common and effective method of treatment (TT) of SSHL. SDs can be used as a systemic (oral-p.o or intravenously- i.v) and locally (intratympanic-IT).

Material and Methods:

We selected SSHL patients between ages 35 – 50 y.o, chose them appropriate method of TT according to informed consent. Selected 60 patients (66 ears) divided three equal groups in each groups 20 patients-22 ears. The effectiveness of TT was assessed according to the pure tone audiometry-PAD which is performed before the TT, 10th days, and 1st, 3 rd and 6th months after the therapy. I group – received dexamethasone (DX) IT (according to the scheme: 4 mg every day for 14 days); II group -received DX i.v. (0.1 mg per 1 kg of body for 14 days, according to the scheme). III group – received SDs (DX 0.1 mg per kg of body for 14 days) and additional traditional complex systemic therapy.

Results:

During 1st month of the therapy, PTA- no statistically significant differences were found between the groups but after 6 months, the picture changed, and the highest frequency of positive clinical results was achieved in group I (73%, p < 0.05). At the same time, groups II and III differed insignificantly in terms of the number of positive clinical results – 55% and 46, respectively (p > 0.05). In Group I, the proportion of patients with complete hearing restoration was significantly higher than in groups II and III.

Conclusion:

Local ST can be advisable method of TT in SSHL especially when systemic therapy is not recommended and this method opens the possibility of outpatient TT of SSHL.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)