Effect of prostaglandin E1 on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a double-blinded clinical study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN:

The authors conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial for the purpose of elucidating the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

SETTING AND PATIENTS:

With the approval of the institute ethics committee, a total of 57 consecutive patients with diagnoses of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were included in the study. The patients in the PGE1 group received continuous infusion containing 60 microg PGE1 and 100 mg hydrocortisone for 7 days, and the patients in the placebo group were treated with continuous infusion containing an inactive placebo and 100 mg hydrocortisone.

RESULTS:

No significant differences were observed in the improvements of pure-tone average and subjective symptoms between the PGE1 and the placebo groups. However, the hearing improvement at high frequencies (4 kHz and 8 kHz) was significantly higher in the PGE1 group than in the placebo group, especially in the patients with severe tinnitus.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results failed to prove a beneficial effect of PGE1 in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Further studies will be needed to clarify the pharmacologic actions of PGE1 in the cochlea.

• Authors: Kaoru Ogawa, Satoshi Takei, Yasuhiro Inoue, Jin Kanzaki
• Journal: Otology & neurotology : official publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [and] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology (Otol Neurotol) Vol. 23 Issue 5 Pg. 665-8 (Sep 2002) ISSN: 1531-7129 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12218617 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Vasodilator Agents
• Alprostadil
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Alprostadil (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Audiometry, Pure-Tone
• Cochlea (blood supply, drug effects)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Hearing Loss, Sensorineural (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (therapeutic use)
• Infusion Pumps
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Severity of Illness Index
• Tinnitus (complications)
• Vasodilator Agents (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)