The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of
methylprednisolone in
vestibular neuritis (VN) by objective and subjective measures. This prospective controlled randomized study was conducted at one tertiary hospital. Twenty-nine VN patients were randomized to either the
steroid (n = 15) or the control (n = 14) group. The
steroid group received
methylprednisolone for 2 weeks, whereas control patients did not; both groups underwent regular vestibular exercises and were prescribed a Ginkgo biloba. Vestibular function tests including caloric test, video head impulse test (vHIT), and sensory organization test (SOT) were performed, and
dizziness handicap index (DHI) was determined at enrollment; all tests were repeated at 1 and 6 months after enrollment. Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in caloric weakness and vHIT gain at 1- and 6-month follow-up evaluations compared to the initial examination; however, differences were not significant. The rates of normalization of canal
paresis at 1 and 6 months were 50 and 64% in the control group and 33 and 60% in the
steroid group, respectively, with no differences between the two groups. The rates of vHIT normalization at 1 and 6 months
after treatment were 57 and 78% in the control group and 53 and 87% in the
steroid group, respectively, with no differences between the two groups. Finally, there were no significant differences in the improvement of composite scores of SOT and the DHI scores between the two groups. In this prospective RCT,
methylprednisolone had no additional benefit in patients with VN who underwent vestibular exercises and received a Ginkgo biloba.
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