Is corticosteroid therapy effective for sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss at lower frequencies?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy for sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss at lower frequencies.


METHODS
Retrospective, nonrandomized, controlled study.


METHODS
The recovery rate, recovery/improvement rate, and period between the start of therapy and improvement of symptoms were studied in 2 groups: the control group, consisting of 36 patients treated with adenosine triphosphate disodium, kallidinogenase, and cyanocobalamin between March 1, 2000, and January 31, 2001; and the corticosteroid-treated group, consisting of 42 patients treated with corticosteroids in addition to the previously mentioned drugs between April 1, 1997, and February 29, 2000.


RESULTS
No significant difference (P =.83) was noted in the recovery rate between the control group (81%) and the corticosteroid-treated group (79%), and the recovery/improvement rate was the same for the 2 groups (83%). In addition, there was no significant difference (P =.84) for the mean +/- SD period between the start of therapy and improvement of symptoms between the control group (3.9 +/- 2.7 days) and the corticosteroid-treated group (3.7 +/- 2.1 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroids were not effective for sudden-onset sensorineural hearing loss at lower frequencies.
Kitajiri
Shin-ichiro
S
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. kitajiri@hs.m.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Tabuchi
Keisaku
K
Hiraumi
Harukazu
H
Hirose
Tomoko
T
D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; C021322:prednisolone hemisuccinate