title: Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 or pentoxifylline for the treatment of sudden deafness: a randomized, reference-controlled, double-blind study.
abstract: In a randomized, prospective, double-blind study involving 72 patients, the therapeutic efficacy of ginkgo extract EGb 761 (n = 37) was compared to that of pentoxifylline (n = 35) for the treatment of sudden deafness. The two therapeutic schedules were equally well tolerated and showed a statistically significant equivalence in improvement or in return to normal of the auditory thresholds in the two patient groups. Furthermore, no differences were found between the treatment groups with regard to the criteria for a return to normal of speech discrimination and reduction of the tinnitus which arose at the same time as the sudden hearing loss. The patient's subjective assessment of the treatment with regard to improvement in hearing and reduction in tinnitus suggested that Ginkgo biloba extract was more beneficial than pentoxifylline. In summary, it was shown that treatment of sudden deafness with ginkgo special extract EGb 761 was as effective as treatment with pentoxifylline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. christoph_reisser@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Reisser
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weidauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D010431:Pentoxifylline; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract