Therapeutic effect of lipoprostaglandin E1 on sudden hearing loss.
OBJECTIVE
The authors conducted a prospective, comparative clinical trial for the purpose of additional effect of lipoprostaglandin E 1 (lipo-PGE 1 ) on sudden hearing loss.


METHODS
With the approval of the institute ethics committee, a total of 128 consecutive patients with diagnoses of sudden hearing loss were included in the study. The patients in the lipo-PGE 1 group received continuous infusion of 10 microL lipo-PGE 1 and 48 mg methylprednisolone for 5 days, and the patient in the control group were treated with only 48 mg methylprednisolone.


RESULTS
The total recovery rate after the treatment was 67.2%. There were 70.5% recovery rate in lipo-PGE 1 group and 60.5% recovery rate in control group. However, no significant differences were observed in the improvements of pure tone average and subjective symptoms between the lipo-PGE 1 and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results failed to prove a beneficial effect of lipo-PGE 1 in the treatment of sudden hearing loss in spite of its higher cure rate.
Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, and Department of Otolaryngology, Pundang Jesaeng Hospital, Daejin Medical Center, Sungnam, South Korea. meniere@amc.seoul.kr
Joong Ho
JH
Ahn
Mi Ra
MR
Kim
Hyang Cho
HC
Kim
D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D036502:Infusions, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014717:Vertigo
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000527:Alprostadil; D008775:Methylprednisolone