Radical scavengers for Ménière's disease after failure of conventional therapy: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a trial to assess the efficacy of radical scavengers, i.e. rebamipide, vitamin C and glutathione, for the treatment of Ménière's disease (MD).


METHODS
Rebamipide (300 mg/day), vitamin C (600 mg/day) and/or glutathione (300 mg/day) were given orally for at least 8 weeks to 25 patients with poorly controlled MD.


RESULTS
Of 22 patients, 21 showed marked improvement of vertigo; 12/27 ears showed improvement of hearing disorders; 17/27 ears showed improvement of tinnitus; and 18/25 patients showed improvement of disability.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that treatment using radical scavengers has the potential to become an effective new therapy for MD.
Takumida
Masaya
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan. masati@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Anniko
Matti
M
Ohtani
Makiko
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015363:Quinolones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D015363:Quinolones; D005978:Glutathione; C052785:rebamipide; D000409:Alanine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid