Therapeutic Effect of Zinc and Lipoprostaglandin E1 for Idiopathic Sudden Hearing Loss / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the therapeutic effect of zinc, lipoprostaglandin E1 in addition to systemic steroid therapy on hearing improvement for the treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospective medical chart reviews of 500 patients who had been diagnosed with unilateral idiopathic sudden hearing loss between May 2006 and April 2014 were performed. Then, we conducted a multiple linear regression analysis using the data of individual patients. RESULTS: Better hearing gain was associated with low tone hearing loss (p<0.001), better initial contralateral hearing (p<0.001), and the absence of dizziness (p=0.015). Patients who underwent intratympanic steroid treatment as salvage treatment showed a lower hearing gain (p<0.001). Zinc supplementation was effective for the treatment of patients with mild hearing loss (p<0.001). On the contrary, significant improvements in hearing gain were found in patients with profound hearing loss who were treated with an additional lipoprostaglandin E1 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: An additional use of zinc and lipoprostaglandin E1 may enhance hearing improvement for the treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss.