Lipo-prostaglandin E1 in combination with steroid therapy is effective for treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in Korean patients with Type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), possibly as a result of microvascular damage, increased blood viscosity and embolic and thrombotic episodes. Aim To perform a prospective, randomized clinical trial to determine the therapeutic effect of lipo-prostaglandin E(1) (lipo-PGE(1)) on SSNHL in Korean patients with Type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 270 consecutive Korean patients (130 male, 140 female) in whom SSNHL was diagnosed. Patients were classified as diabetic or non-diabetic by the new American Diabetes Association criteria. With the approval of the institute ethics committee, patients were randomly assigned to treatment with of 10 microg lipo-PGE(1) (lipo-PGE(1) group) given as a continuous infusion over 5 days, or saline (placebo group). In addition, all patients studied were treated with 48 mg methylprednisolone for 5 days.


RESULTS
The overall recovery rates after treatment were 51.5% in diabetic and 64.2% in non-diabetic patients. In diabetic patients, there was a significantly higher rate of hearing improvement in the lipo-PGE(1) group (64.7%) compared with the placebo group (37.5%), whereas, in non-diabetic patients, there was no significant difference in rate of hearing improvement between the lipo-PGE(1) group (70.3%) and the placebo group (58.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Lipo-PGE(1) may have beneficial effects in the treatment of SSNHL in Korean patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Ahn
J H
JH
Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
T Y
TY
Kim
Y-J
YJ
Han
M W
MW
Yoon
T H
TH
Chung
J W
JW
D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000527:Alprostadil; D008775:Methylprednisolone