title: Combined intratympanic and systemic use of steroids for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare hearing results in idiopathic sudden hearing loss patients treated with systemic steroids alone or combined intratympanic and steroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients in the systemic therapy group received consecutive administration of 100 mg intravenous methylprednisolone in the first day, 80 mg/day oral prednisolone in 3 divided doses for the next 2 days, and continued with oral administration of steroids by tapering the dose 20 mg in every 2 days. The patients in the combined treatment group received intratympanic injection of methylprednisolone (an approximate dose of 0.5 ml of 125 mg/ml). A total of 5 injections on alternate days were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mean and median PTA gains of systemic corticosteroid therapy (SCT) group were 7.5 and 5 dB at 5th day, 12.1 and 7.5 dB at 10th day, and 13.0 and 8.8 dB at 15th day. The mean and median PTA gains for combined treatment (CT) group were 12.5 and 7.5, 17.8 and 13.8, 21.8 and 20.0 dB, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the mean and the median PTA gains were statistically significantly different between SCT and CT groups. According to improved hearing results (more than 10 dB gain), there was statistically significant difference between SCT and CT groups. None of the patients had an important complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that adding intratympanic methylprednisolone to systemic therapy increases the probability of hearing recovery in ISSHL patients.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, ENT Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Necmi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Haldun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oğuz
authors.forename: Münir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: Mustafa Asım
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Şafak
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: İslam
authors.forename: Selda Kargn
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kaytez
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D008775:Methylprednisolone