title: Intratympanic steroid perfusion for the treatment of Ménière's disease: a retrospective study.
abstract: We conducted a retrospective outcomes review of the charts of 22 patients with Ménière's disease who were treated with intratympanic perfusion of methylprednisolone and/or dexamethasone. Outcomes were determined by subjective assessment of vertigo control and by objective changes in audiometric pure-tone average (PTA) and speech discrimination score (SDS). These evaluations were made at the first postperfusion visit (short term) and at least 12 months later (long term). In the short term, 12 patients (54.5%) achieved vertigo control, 4 patients (18.2%) demonstrated a greater than 10-dB improvement in PTA, and 1 patient (4.5%) experienced an increase in SDS of at least 15%. In the long term, the corresponding numbers of patients were 4 (18.2%), 2 (9.1%), and 1 (4.5%). The level of hearing ultimately deteriorated in 9 patients (40.9%). These findings suggest that intratympanic steroid perfusion does not result in any long-term alleviation of vertigo or hearing loss. However, the short-term alleviation of vertigo seen in approximately half of these patients suggests that this treatment may be useful for the temporary relief of symptoms of Ménière's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298-0146, USA. kelleydodson@comcast.net
authors.forename: Kelley M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woodson
authors.forename: Aristides
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sismanis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone