Is repetitive systemic corticosteroid therapy effective for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss? a retrospective study

Abstract

IntroductionSome idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) cases experience repetitive systemic corticosteroid treatment, but studies focusing on repetitive systemic corticosteroid administration have not been reported. Thus, we investigated the clinical characteristics and usefulness of repetitive systemic corticosteroid treatment in ISSHL cases.MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of 103 patients who received corticosteroids only in our hospital (single-treatment group), and 46 patients who presented at our hospital after receiving corticosteroids in a nearby clinic and were subsequently treated with corticosteroids again in our hospital (repetitive-treatment group). Clinical backgrounds, hearing thresholds, and hearing prognosis were assessed.ResultsThe final hearing outcomes were not different between the two groups. Further, in the repetitive-treatment group, statistical differences were found between the good and poor prognosis groups in the number of days to start corticosteroid administration (p = 0.03), the dose of corticosteroid (p = 0.02), and the duration of corticosteroid administration (p = 0.02) at the previous facility. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant difference in the dose of corticosteroids administered by the previous clinic (p = 0.004).ConclusionThe repetitive systemic corticosteroid administration might play a supplementary role in hearing improvement, and initial sufficient corticosteroid administration would lead to good hearing outcomes in an early phase of ISSHL.

Therapeutic efficacy of methylprednisolone sodium succinate via diverse administration routes for mid- to high-frequency sudden sensorineural hearing loss

“…Xie et al [ 22 ] and Yamamoto et al [ 23 ] indicated that IT steroid injection does not damage the inner ear, with insignificant histological or cochlear functional changes. IT injection was shown to be a safe treatment method in the study, with no major complications.…”

The role of hyperbaric oxygen in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

“…10 And giving adequate steroid therapy as early as possible after the onset of ISSNHL is the main measure to effectively salvage hearing loss, and repetitive systemic steroid therapy may be a promising measure of salvage therapy, but its efficacy remains unclear. 11 The combination of systemic and intratympanic steroids may provide greater benefit than either systemic or intratympanic therapy alone. A previous study has shown that steroid therapy has good efficacy in ISSNHL, but its use is controversial.…”