title: Intratympanic gentamicin treatment for unilateral Ménière's disease: long-term follow up of a proven regime.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the long-term efficacy of a fixed-dose intratympanic gentamicin treatment regime in controlling unilateral Ménière's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pfleiderer (1998) published two-year follow-up results for a series of 16 patients treated with a 4-day, 12-dose intratympanic gentamicin regime for unilateral Ménière's disease that was refractory to medical treatment. In 2010, a long-term telephone follow up (mean 17 years and 3 months) of this same cohort was conducted to determine long-term vertigo control. Of the 16 patients, 13 were eligible for the long-term follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 2 years' follow up, all 16 patients experienced substantial control of vertigo, with complete control achieved in 87 per cent of cases. At the long-term follow up, 9 of the 13 eligible patients were contactable, and all reported complete control of vertigo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fixed-dose intratympanic gentamicin controlled symptomatic unilateral Ménière's disease in both the short and long term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, UK. josephwasson@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wasson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Upile
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfleiderer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007322:Instillation, Drug; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins