title: Efficacy of oral vs. intratympanic corticosteroids in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The current standard treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) comprises of tapered course of oral corticosteroids. Intratympanic steroids are introduced as another modality of treatment, but management of SSNHL continues to be debatable. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of steroids given orally and by the intratympanic route.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, open-labeled study was conducted involving 42 patients. These were randomly divided into two groups; group I patients received oral prednisone tapered over 14 days, and group II patients were treated with intratympanic methylprednisolone (40 mg/mL). One milliliter of the drug solution containing 40 mg of the drug (40 mg/mL) was injected into the middle ear cavity through the trans-tympanic route. The drug was injected twice a week for 2 weeks. The total duration of the study was 60 days, and hearing outcome was assessed on the basis of change in pure tone average.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An improvement of 18.24±8.72 dB was recorded in group I patients treated with oral prednisone in comparison to 14.68±12.88 dB improvement in group II. Statistically significant improvement in hearing was observed in both groups, but it was not significant when group I and group II were compared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The post-treatment outcomes among patients who receive either oral prednisone or intratympanic methylprednisolone within 2 weeks of onset of symptoms were comparable. The outcomes were affected by degree of hearing loss and association of SSNHL with vertigo.
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Swachia
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Jatinder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000069555:Injection, Intratympanic / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D008775:Methylprednisolone