Antioxidants in treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
Assuming that superoxide anion radicals (O(2)-) may play a role in damage to the inner ear, the authors investigated the possible benefit of vitamin E as an antioxidant in the treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss.


METHODS
Prospective, double-blind study.


METHODS
The Department of Otolaryngology of Rambam Medical Center serves as a tertiary referral center for a population of 1.2 million people.


METHODS
A total of 66 patients, aged 15 to 70 years, with diagnoses of idiopathic sudden hearing loss of less than 7 days' duration during 1998 to 2001, were included in the study. All were treated with bed rest, steroids, magnesium, and carbogen inhalation. The study group received vitamin E in addition.


RESULTS
The recovery rate, calculated as hearing gain divided by the difference in hearing level between the affected and unaffected ear, was better than 75% in 41 of 66 (62.12%) patients. This rate was achieved in 26 (78.78%) patients in the study group treated with vitamin E, compared with 15 (45.45%) patients in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients treated with the addition of vitamin E achieved better recovery than did the control patients. Further studies should be directed toward a better understanding of the role of antioxidants in idiopathic sudden hearing loss.
Joachims
Henry Z
HZ
Department of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Rambam Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. joachims@rambam.health.gov.il
Segal
Joseph
J
Golz
Avishay
A
Netzer
Aviram
A
Goldenberg
David
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006309:Hearing; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E