title: Sudden deafness: a retrospective evaluation of dextran therapy.
abstract: A retrospective evaluation was performed in 112 patients treated during a 10-year period as inpatients with the diagnosis idiopathic sudden hearing loss. Excluding all patients in whom later other diagnosis were established, like Ménière's disease, collagenoses, mumps etc., 101 patients remained. 80 of them had been treated consistently according to a protocol as having idiopathic sudden hearing loss. These patients had all 5-day treatment with low molecular weight dextran and nicotinic acid and vitamin B during 1 month. 68% did completely recover or were markedly improved (> 30 dB), another 19% were fairly improved (10-30 dB). Statistical analysis showed that all retrocochlear signs or nystagmus made the prognosis less favorable. To wake up with the hearing loss was more favorable than a daytime debut. A mid-frequency loss had always a good prognosis. Because no untreated controls were included in the study, it was not possible to evaluate the specific effect of the treatment. The results obtained from this study have changed the treatment policy in our clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hultcrantz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stenquist
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lyttkens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004584:Electronystagmography; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013199:Stapes / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D009525:Niacin