Role of ciclosporin in steroid-responsive sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
CONCLUSIONS
A subgroup of patients with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) will have steroid-dependent symptoms which can be confirmed using pure-tone audiometry. Long-term treatment with high-dose corticosteroids exposes patients to potentially serious adverse effects. Immunosuppression with ciclosporin can be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for steroid-responsive sudden SNHL.


OBJECTIVE
To highlight ciclosporin as a therapeutic option in the treatment of steroid-responsive sudden SNHL.


METHODS
A 39-year-old male with idiopathic sudden SNHL that was responsive to corticosteroids was treated with ciclosporin for 18 months.


RESULTS
Steroid-dependent SNHL was confirmed on audiological evaluation. Ciclosporin was administered, allowing corticosteroid therapy to be discontinued. Ciclosporin was effective at controlling all symptoms of SNHL. Remission was confirmed objectively with pure-tone audiometry.
McClelland
Lisha
L
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK. lisha@orange.net
Powell
Richard J
RJ
Birchall
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D018120:Finasteride / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018120:Finasteride; D016572:Cyclosporine