title: Effects of tibolone on auditory brainstem responses in postmenopausal women--a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of tibolone, a synthetic steroid, in modifying auditory brainstem response (ABR) in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient menopausal clinic in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four healthy postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administration of either tibolone or placebo for 12 weeks; evaluation of ABR and hormone levels before and after treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in auditory brainstem response latencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of the ABR latency data from the two treatment groups showed a significant decrease in wave II, III, and V peak latencies in women receiving tibolone. No significant differences in pretreatment and posttreatment circulating hormone concentrations were observed between the tibolone and placebo group. Furthermore, there was no significant increase in hormone levels in either of the groups at 12 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings show an improvement in auditory function via brainstem auditory neural pathways sensitive to tibolone in postmenopausal women. Tibolone may offer new therapeutic strategies in otologic disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria. michael.sator@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Sator
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Egarter
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wölfl
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nagele
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D017698:Postmenopause; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D009652:Norpregnenes; D010919:Placebos; C027385:tibolone