Effects of alprostadil combined with hyperbaric oxygen on hearing recovery and hemorheology in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and analysis of related influencing factors

Abstract

The causes of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) are unclear, and the condition cannot be treated with specific regimens. The present study was designed to explore the effects of alprostadil combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on hearing recovery and hemorheology in patients with SSNHL, and to analyze factors influencing treatment efficacy. in total, 104 patients with SSNHL were enrolled between January 2015 and July 2018 in a randomized controlled trial. Group A (n=52) received alprostadil treatment and Group B (n=52) were treated with HBO plus alprostadil. Following treatment, the overall recovery rates of tinnitus, aural fullness and vertigo in Group B were significantly higher than those in Group A (P<0.05). Low-, middle-and high-shear whole blood viscosity and whole blood viscosity in the two groups significantly decreased, and those in Group B were significantly lower than those in Group A (P<0.05). The present results indicated that the combination of alprostadil with HBO can improve the therapeutic effect on SSNHL, reduce blood viscosity and improve coagulation function, thus significantly promoting hearing recovery. Further, SSNHL treatment efficacy was influenced by age, time of onset, hearing threshold, presence or absence of tinnitus, plasma viscosity and serum C-reactive protein levels. The trial registration number for the present study was: NCT02563872.

Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Current otolaryngology practices in China

“…Ginkgo biloba extract and batroxobin were the most popular drugs applied by Chinese otolaryngologists. Most of the clinical studies supporting the efficacy of these drugs were performed by Chinese researchers, but the quality of studies included in the meta-analysis was low (31)(32)(33). Therefore, higher-quality RCTs assessing the effectiveness of hemorheological drugs are warranted.…”

Age-related hearing loss and its potential drug candidates: a systematic review

“…Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: A controlled trial of 60 ears with hearing impairment and tinnitus that received hyperbaric oxygen therapy and 60 ears that received normoxic therapy found that patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy had significantly better hearing and tinnitus recovery [ 160 ]. Recent studies have found that the combination of alprostadil and hyperbaric oxygen can significantly promote hearing recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss by reducing blood viscosity and improving coagulation function [ 161 ]. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment may therefore be a useful complementary therapy.…”

Diagnostic and predictive values of serum metabolic profiles in sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients

“…Previous epidemiological investigations showed that the incidence of SSNHL ranged from 5 to 20 per 100,000 individuals ( Chen et al, 2021 ; Doweck et al, 2022 ). Currently, the pathogenic causes of SSNHL are still debated, and several possible etiologies have been proposed, including viral infection, vascular disorders, trauma and autoimmune diseases ( Shen et al, 2021 ; Wu et al, 2022a ; Feng et al, 2022 ). As a medical emergence, detailed examination to determine possible causes and early treatment onset is extremely important to improve hearing prognosis in SSNHL patients ( Jiang et al, 2021 ; Huo et al, 2022 ).…”