title: Transtympanic dexamethasone application in Ménière's disease: an alternative treatment for intractable vertigo.
abstract: The aetiology of Ménière's disease still remains unknown and its therapy is therefore empirical. As a result of immunological abnormalities demonstrated, steroids are commonly used in Ménière's disease. The place of topical steroids is still controversial. In this investigation topical dexamethasone is applied for three months through a ventilation tube in patients with intractable vertigo. The results showed that this treatment controls vertigo in 72 per cent of cases. No patient was worse than before treatment. Only in 17 per cent of the patients was there an increase in hearing level. When compared to the reports which used only tympanostomy tubes, this procedure seems to have a placebo effect with minimal harmful effects. It appears that transtympanic dexamethasone application is a good alternative to vestibular nerve section. Topical treatment may be sufficient in most patients. Systemic treatment may be used in patients where topical treatment fails.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sennaroğlu
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sennaroğlu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gursel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkan
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone