Intratympanic gentamicin therapy for control of vertigo in unilateral Menire's disease: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
CONCLUSIONS
Intratympanic application of gentamicin is a relatively safe and efficient treatment for the reduction of complaints of vertigo attacks associated with Menière's disease. The treatment also reduces the severity of the perceived aural fullness.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effectiveness of intratympanic gentamicin treatment in patients with unilateral Menière's disease.


METHODS
In a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial subjects scored vertigo complaints, aural fullness and tinnitus, before, during and up to 1 year after treatment. Hearing loss was monitored with pure tone audiometry.


RESULTS
Gentamicin treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the score for vertigo complaints and the score for perceived aural fullness. A small increase in hearing loss (average 8 dB) was measured in the gentamicin group.
Postema
Rolf J
RJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Kingma
Charlotte M
CM
Wit
Hero P
HP
Albers
Frans W J
FW
Van Der Laan
Bernard F A M
BF
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins