title: Effect of edaravone on acute brainstem-cerebellar infarction with vertigo and sudden hearing loss.
abstract: We report 2 cases with acute brainstem and brainstem-cerebellar infarction showed improvement of their signs and symptoms after administration of edaravone. Case 1, a 74-year-old woman who experienced sudden vertigo, also had dysarthria and left hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an abnormal region in the right ventrolateral medulla oblongata. The patient's vertigo and hemiplegia improved completely after treatment. Case 2, a 50-year-old man who experienced sudden vertigo and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), developed dysarthria after admission. MRI revealed acute infarction in the right cerebellar hemisphere. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed dissection of the basilar artery and occlusion of the right anterior inferior cerebellar artery. The patient's vertigo and hearing remarkably improved. We have described 2 patients whose early symptoms were vertigo and sudden SNHL, but who were later shown to have ischemic lesions of the central nervous system. Edaravone is neuroprotective drug with free radical-scavenging actions. Free radicals in the ear are responsible for ischemic damage. Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, may be useful in the treatment of vertigo and SNHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: inoue-yuta@hotmail.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D020526:Brain Stem Infarctions / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000098:blood supply; D000077553:Edaravone; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D000077553:Edaravone; D000983:Antipyrine
keywords: Edaravone; Free radical; Hearing loss; Vertigo