Evaluation of super-high-dose steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the efficacy of a high-dose steroid regimen for patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and to evaluate the relationship between outcome and initial steroid dose.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING:

We conducted a retrospective study of 112 patients presenting to Saitama Medical Center. Patients received tapering courses of hydrocortisone (HC) with an initial dose of either 1200 mg or 600 mg.

RESULTS:

More than 87% of patients had recovery of hearing. When hearing stabilized, there were no significant differences between the 1200 mg and 600 mg groups in terms of hearing outcome (P>0.05). However, at completion of treatment, the 1200 mg group exhibited significantly superior complete recovery rate and improvement rate (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Application of our treatment protocol of a tapered course of 1200 mg HC significantly and rapidly improves recovery outcomes in patients of SSNHL.

EBM RATING:

C-4.

• Authors: Daisuke Aoki, Hideki Takegoshi, Shigeru Kikuchi
• Journal: Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 134 Issue 5 Pg. 783-7 (May 2006) ISSN: 0194-5998 [Print] England
• PMID: 16647535 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Audiometry
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hearing (physiology)
• Hearing Loss, Sensorineural (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Injections, Intravenous
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome