The effect of intratympanic steroid injection frequency in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of intratympanic steroid injection frequency on hearing outcomes for patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Effect of intratympanic steroid injection in light cupula

Objective: To evaluate the effects of intratympanic steroid injection (ITS) in light cupula.

Methods: A total of 47 patients showing persistent geotropic direction-changing positional nystagmus with null point (light cupula) were randomly classified into three groups: ITS (n?=?15), vestibular suppressant (VS, n?=?16) and canalith repositioning procedure (CRP, n?=?16). Positional nystagmus and dizziness severity by dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) were conducted before and 3 d and 1 week after first treatment to compare the effect of each treatment.

Results: DHI and VAS scores had decreased after each treatment; however, there were no differences among the three groups. A week after the first treatment, 7, 6 and 7 patients showed resolution of direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN) in the ITS, CRP and VS groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between the three groups. In the ITS group only, however, reversal of the stronger side on head roll test was observed in 6 patients, and 2 of them showed resolution of DCPN at the third day.

Conclusions: ITS was not effective for patients with light cupula at 1-week follow-up. However, some patients in the ITS group showed resolution of DCPN at earlier follow-up.     

Frequency-specific efficacy of intratympanic steroid on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Background: Hearing recovery would be different in each sound frequency in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).

Aims/objectives: To analyze frequency-specific efficacy of intratympanic steroid on ISSNHL.

Materials and methods: Of a total of 381 patients with ISSNHL (hearing threshold ≥40?dB; ≤30?days until treatment), 174 patients (174 ears) received systemic steroid plus hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO group), and 207 patients (208 ears) received systemic plus intratympanic steroid (IT group). Hearing thresholds at 125–8000?Hz were measured at every octave before and after treatment.

Results: % of patients with hearing gains ≥10?dB in the IT group was significantly higher for 500?Hz and the average of 5 mid-frequencies, tended to be higher for 1000?Hz, but was significantly lower for 8000?Hz, compared to the HBO group. Multiple regression analysis showed that hearing recovery was negatively correlated with patients’ age for 125/2000/4000/8000?Hz and with days from onset to treatment for all frequencies, and also revealed better hearing recovery at 500/1000?Hz in the IT group than in the HBO group.

Conclusions: Intratympanic steroid is more effective than hyperbaric oxygen to yield better hearing outcomes at mid-frequencies and would be advantageous to restore sound/speech perception.

Significance: Superiority of intratympanic steroid over hyperbaric oxygen for treating ISSNHL was verified.     

Potential efficacy of early treatment of acute acoustic trauma with steroids and piracetam after gunshot noise

The purpose of this randomized study was to evaluate the early effect of the treatment of acute acoustic trauma (AAT) with steroids and piracetam in a sample of 52 young soldiers who were exposed to intense gunfire noise (G3 rifle). These patients were divided into three groups: (1) group A (20 patients) in which the treatment began within the first hour after the AAT, (2) group B (17 patients) in which the treatment started more than 1 h later and less than 16 h after the AAT and (3) group C (15 patients) in which the treatment began after 24 h or more. One month after the treatment onset, 36 (69%) patients of all the groups showed hearing improvement (complete-partial recovery) in the pure tone audiometry. The greater number of patients who showed complete recovery after AAT was noted in group A (65%) compared to group B (23.5%) and C (13.3%). Moreover, in group A, in the final audiogram, the averaged hearing threshold was statistically better (P < 0.001) than that of groups B and C. In spite of the lack of control group, our data demonstrated the possible effectiveness of the immediate onset of treatment of AAT.     

Effects of intratympanic dexamethasone on noise-induced hearing loss: An experimental study

Aim

Aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of intratympanic steroid treatment on hearing based on oto-acoustic emission.

A comparison between systemic and intratympanic steroid therapies as initial therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a meta-analysis

Conclusions: Intratympanic steroid (ITS) treatment groups exhibited better outcomes in PTA improvement and recovery rate than systemic steroid therapy (SST) groups. Whether initial hearing loss severity would influence the PTA improvement and recovery rate still requires further research.

Objective: This article was aimed at evaluating whether intratympanic steroid (ITS) treatment would provide benefits over systemic steroid therapy (SST) as initial therapy in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). A meta-analysis was carried out based on published RCTs that included the hearing outcomes of ITS treatment and SST in ISSHL as initial therapy. Both PTA differences and recovery rate were analyzed.

Methods: The literature search was based on the online database including Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane trails, which completed in July 2016. This study extracted the relevant data following the selection criteria. Mean difference (MD) of PTA differences and Odds ratio (OR) of recovery rate were calculated within 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Six eligible articles were reviewed. The pooled MDs of PTA differences was 3.42 (95% CI?=?0.17–6.67, p?=?.04) and the pooled ORs of recovery rate was 2.05 (95% CI?=?1.38–3.03, p?=?.0003), which indicated that ITS treatment yielded better PTA improvement than SST. Sub-group analyses based on the initial hearing loss were also conducted; however, the difference was insignificant according to our analysis results (p?=?.82 for PTA improvement and p?=?.26 for recovery rate).     

Efficacy of intratympanic corticosteroid,intravenous batroxobin and combined treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss with type-2 diabetes

Background: Intratympanic corticosteroid (IC), intravenous batroxobin (IB) as the treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) has been reported. However, the data on combination therapy (CT) was scarce.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the efficacy of IC, IB, and CT in the treatment of SSNHL with diabetes.

Material and Methods: A total of 212 SSNHL patients with diabetes, who were initially treated within 14 days of onset of disease, were divided into three groups by treatment modality. The hearing recovery was evaluated by the results of pure-tone test after completion of treatment. The prognostic factors, including age, severity of initial hearing loss, duration to onset of treatment, and audiometric curve type, were further compared.

Results: There was a significant difference in hearing recovery by the treatment (p?<?.05). Recovery rates in the CT group were significantly higher in patients with early treatment than with delayed treatment (p?=?.021). However, duration and recovery rate was not significantly correlated in IC and IB group (p?>?.05). In patients recieving early treatment, the recovery rate in CT group was significantly higher than that in IC (p?=?.013) and IB group (p?=?.029). Regardless of treatment, the recovery rates were higher in patients with flat and ascending audiograms (p?<?.05).

Conclusions and Significance: Patients receiving combined therapy, especially in the early stage of SSNHL, could achieve significantly superior recovery in the treatment of SSNHL with diabetes, compared with those using IC or IB alone.     

Intratympanic steroid injection as a first-line therapy in uremia patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Conclusions: ITSI as a first-line therapy in uremia patients with SSNHL offers a valid and safe treatment compared with intravenous systemic steroid treatment. A specific pathophysiology caused by possible sodium pump paralysis may be explained for uremia patients with SSNHL. Objective: To compare the efficacy of intratympanic steroid injection (ITSI) with that of systemic intravenous steroids as a first-line therapy in uremia patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Materials and methods: A total of 23 consecutive uremia patients with SSNHL were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: the ITSI group (n = 15) and the non-ITSI group (n = 8), in which patients received intravenous systemic steroid treatment. The two groups were homogeneous in all respects. Results: The hearing improvement and relative gain were statistically significant between the two groups. The value of hearing gain (ΔPTA = PTA _pre – PTA _post) in the ITSI group and the non-ITSI group was 24.6 ± 16.4dB and 8.4 ± 19.3dB. The value of relative gain (ΔPTA/PTA_pre) in the ITIS group and the non-ITSI group was 31.1 ± 22% and 9.4 ± 20.5%. In the ITSI group, 11 patients (73.3%) exhibited hearing recovery (ΔPTA > 10 dB).     

鼓室激素注射为初始治疗的突发性聋听力恢复的时间规律

目的 探讨鼓室激素注射作为初始治疗突发性聋患者方案的听力恢复时间规律,寻求最佳鼓室给药时机。方法 将突发性聋患者135例纳入研究,均接受为期2周的全身激素治疗。其中63例仅接受全身激素治疗,另72例在全身激素治疗开始的同时联合鼓室内激素注射。所有病例随访2个月。结果 治疗后第3天、第7天、第14天、1个月、2个月每个时间点两组间总有效率差异均无统计学意义。全身激素治疗联合鼓室注射组第7天与第14天疗效差异无统计学意义(P=0.065),而单纯全身激素治疗者第7天与第14天疗效比较差异有统计学意义(P=0.029)。结论 鼓室激素注射联合全身激素治疗作为初始治疗方案,其疗效并不优于单纯全身激素治疗,但听力改善峰值的时间前者总体早于后者。     

Intratympanic steroid therapy for refractory sudden sensory hearing loss: a 12-year experience with the Silverstein catheter

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is commonly encountered in clinical practice.

Aim/Objective: Determine if local administration of corticosteroids to the inner ear can improve hearing and speech intelligibility after the failure of conventional treatment for SSNHL loss when administered for 10 days after the onset of the hearing loss in a large cohort of 77 patients.

Materials and methods: A Silverstein MicroWick? was placed under local anesthesia and endoscopic control in the round window niche, allowing self-administration of methylprednisolone twice daily for four weeks.

Results: An improvement of the pure tone average was shown in 31% of patients. Speech intelligibility improved significantly in 55% of the total cohort and in 34% of the population with a stable pure tone average. Among the 77 patients, 22% used a hearing aid. Only 14% of the patients were hearing-aid users in the group with an improvement in speech intelligibility as opposed to 31% in the failure group.

Conclusion and significance: Local administration of steroids to the inner ear through the round window route improves hearing and speech intelligibility in patients after failure of conventional therapy. The use of a hearing aid was reduced by 50% when speech intelligibility was improved.     

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss treated with intratympanic dexamethasone injection

Objective To evaluate the effect of different protocols of intratympanic dexamethasone injection in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) who have failed to respond to typical medical treatment (including systemic steroid treatment). Methods From January 2005 to January 2008, 71 patients who were diagnosed with unilateral SSNHL and failed typical medical treatment received intratympanic dexamethasone injection. Four injection protocols were employed: injection of 0.3 ml dexamethasone(5 mg/ml) three times a week for 3 weeks for a total dose of 13.5 mg (Group Ⅰ, n=16); injection of 0.6 ml (5 mg/mi) dexamethasone three times a week for 3 weeks for a total dose of 27 mg (Group Ⅱ, n=18); injection at 0.3 ml(5 mg/ml) week for 6 weeks for a total dose of 9 mg (Group Ⅲ, n=18); injection at 0.3 ml (5 mg/ml)/2 days for a total dose of 4.5 mg (Group IV n=19). Hearing recovery was assessed by pure tone audiogram. Results The total effective rate was 37.5%,38.89%, 33.33% and 36.84% for each treatment protocol, respectively, with no statistical difference between them (P>0.05). The results suggest that a total dose of 4.5 mg (injected once a week for 3 weeks) is the most adequate protocol, and increasing dose or injection frequency yields no additional benefits. Conclusion Intratympanic dexamethasone significantly improves the prognosis of SSNHL. Small dose at low injection frequency is sufficient.Further malticenter studies are needed to determine the standard treatment protocol.     

Long-term administration of magnesium after acoustic trauma caused by gunshot noise in guinea pigs

In a previous study we observed that a 7-day post-trauma magnesium treatment significantly reduced auditory threshold shifts measured 7 days after gunshot noise exposure. However this improvement was only temporary, suggesting that it could be potentially beneficial to prolong this treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a long-term (1 month) magnesium treatment after an impulse noise trauma, in comparison with either a 7-day magnesium treatment, an administration of methylprednisolone (conventional treatment), or a placebo (NaCl). Guinea pigs were exposed to impulse noise (three blank gunshots, 170 dB SPL peak). They received one of the four treatments, 1 h after the noise exposure. Auditory function was explored by recording the auditory brainstem response (ABR) and measuring the distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) over a 3-month recovery period after the gunshot exposure. The functional hearing study was supplemented by a histological analysis. The results showed that a 1-month treatment with magnesium was the most effective treatment in terms of hair cell preservation. The DPOAE confirmed this effectiveness. Methylprednisolone accelerated recovery but its final efficacy remained moderate. It is probable that magnesium acts on the later metabolic processes that occur after noise exposure. Multiple mechanisms could be involved: calcium antagonism, anti-ischaemic effect or NMDA channel blockage. Regardless of the specific mechanism, a 1-month treatment with magnesium clearly attenuates NIHL, and presents the advantage of being safe for use in humans.     

MK-801对噪声性听力损伤保护作用的研究

目的:观察N 甲基 D 天冬氨酸(NMDA)受体的非竞争性拮抗剂MK 801在声损伤中对暂时性阈 移(TTS)或永久性阈移(PTS)的保护作用。方法:将40只豚鼠平均分为两组,分别暴露于倍频程噪声(4kHz中 心频率)110dBSPL3h或115dBSPL5h。取110dB或115dB豚鼠各10只(药物组)在噪声暴露前和后立即 给予MK 801(0.5mg/kg体重,腹腔内注射);另各10只豚鼠(对照组)在相同的时间给予等体积的生理盐水腹腔 内注射。测试暴露前后听性脑干反应(ABR)的阈值,透射电镜观察毛细胞及传入神经末梢的形态。结果:110 dB药物组和对照组动物在噪声暴露后立即测试TTS,两组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);1周后两组阈移都消 失。115dB药物组暴露后1周阈移明显低于对照组(P<0.05);暴露后3周,该药物组残留的PTS仍显著低于 对照组(P<0.01)。经超微结构检查,110dB药物组和对照组的毛细胞及传入神经末梢正常;115dB药物组内 毛细胞及传入神经末梢结构正常,对照组内毛细胞及传入神经末梢空泡变性。结论:MK 801对TTS缺乏保护, 对PTS有部分的保护作用。这种保护作用须通过预防内毛细胞及传入神经末梢空泡变性来实现。     

早期联合鼓室注射糖皮质激素治疗突发性聋效果分析

目的　探讨早期联合鼓室注射糖皮质激素治疗突发性聋的疗效。方法　178例突发性聋患者纳入研究,中低频下降型44例,高频下降型50例,平坦型44例,全聋型40例,随机分为两组,其中联合鼓室注射组（CT组）82例,全身口服激素组（OP组）96例,CT组在口服醋酸泼尼松片治疗同时给予鼓室注射甲泼尼龙琥珀酸钠,治疗后 8周复查纯音纯音听力阈值。结果　中低频突发性聋患者中,CT组纯音听力阈及其提高值分别为（26.14±14.91）dB、（41.23±12.61）dB,而OP组为（37.91±13.98）dB、（30.00±13.30）dB,两者差异均具有统计学意义（P 均＜0.05）,而两组在高频型、平坦型及全聋型的差异无统计学意义（P 均＞0.05）,CT组纯音听力阈提高值为（26.52±14.03）dB,高于OP组（22.06±11.17）dB（t =2.361,P ＜0.05）;中低频突发性聋患者中,CT组治愈16 例（72.73%）,OP组治愈9例（40.91%）,差异有统计学意义（χ2=4.539,P＜0.05）,有效、显效及总有效的比较结果显示,两组中低频型突发性聋的治疗效果差异无明显统计学意义,而在高频型、平坦型及全聋型的比较上,CT组与OP组无论是在治愈、有效、显效还是在总有效上,两组差异均无明显统计学意义,CT组共治愈33例（40.24%）,优于OP组的25例（26.04%）（χ2=4.061,P＜0.05）,而两组在显效、有效及总有效率上的差异未见明显统计学意义。结论  中低频型突聋患者,早期联合鼓室注射糖皮质激素会获得更好听力恢复及疗效,对高频型、平坦型及全聋型突聋患者,推荐全身激素用药。