[The hereditary liability of otosclerosis and the strategies for treatment and prevention].
OBJECTIVE
Otosclerosis is a disease of hereditary liability. It might be related to an autosomal dominant inheritance. The genetic penetrance is determined by multifactorial influences. This paper was designed to study the reasonable strategies for prevention and treatment of this disease.


METHODS
A retrospective review derived from data of the management and follow-up of 14 cases in 6 families. According to the special pathological features of active phase of the otospongiosis, the suitable strategies for prevention and treatment of this disease were suggested.


RESULTS
Diagnosis of 14 cases were confirmed by audiological, operative and/or pathological examinations. Eleven of fourteen cases underwent stapedectomy, in which 10 cases had the surgery on the ear with severer hearing loss, and one case on both sides. In all of the surgical cases, hearing levels improved significantly. Three cases have not yet received the stapedectomy, in which two cases scheduled for the surgery are currently treated by chondroitin sulfate and one case refused the surgical treatment due to financial shortage.


CONCLUSIONS
Examination of the ear function at regular intervals (6-12 months) is recommended for the adults among the family members with high-incidence of otosclerosis. Audiological and radiological examination play an important role in early diagnosis and treatment. Attention should be paid to the medicine for management and prevention of this disease. Stapedectomy is an optimal choice for clinical otosclerosis not only due to its capacity to improve the hearing level but also to prevent the advance of hearing loss. Hearing aid is the suitable choice if stapedectomy is contraindicated.
Yi
Z
Z
Otorhinolaryngology Institute of Fujian Province, Department of Otolaryngology, First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China. fjent@163.net
Chen
Z
Z
Li
Z
Z
Zhang
R
R
Zhou
A
A
Yin
Y
Y
D001299:Audiometry; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013201:Stapes Surgery
D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates