Audiometric characteristics in patients with noise-induced hearing loss after sodium enoxaparin treatment.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sodium enoxaparin treatment on patients with noise-induced hearing loss. METHODS: Sixty patients with noise-induced hearing loss were included and randomly divided into two numerically equal groups. Group A underwent therapy with sodium enoxaparin for 10 days, followed by an additional 10 days of treatment after 10 days of no treatment. Group B received placebo as a control. Before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 2 months after the end of treatment, all patients underwent evaluation by laboratory tests, pure tone audiometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) testing, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) testing, and auditory brain stem response testing. RESULTS: In contrast to group B, at the end of the treatment in group A pure tone audiometry showed a significant (p < 0.05) improvement of the audiometric thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz. Depending on the air and bone conduction thresholds, TEOAEs and DPOAEs, which had previously been absent, were evoked at the frequencies examined. These improvements were confirmed at last follow-up. We found no significant differences in auditory brain stem responses or laboratory results. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data encourage further studies to collect additional evidence on the effect of sodium enoxaparin in preventing the development of noise-induced hearing loss.

Efficacy of a topical suspension of bacterial antigens for the management of chronic suppurative otitis media.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a topical suspension of bacterial antigens for the management of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Two-hundred ten patients with CSOM were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two numerically equal groups and randomized to receive a topical suspension of bacterial antigens, Lantigen B (group A), or placebo (group B), according to the following protocol: 5 drops thrice a day for 12 consecutive weeks in the external acoustic duct. The topical suspension of bacterial antigens and placebo were administered by identical, anonymous dispensers in order to maintain double-blind conditions. Before, at the end and 3 months, and after the end of the treatment, all patients who entered in the study underwent pure tone audiometry, microscopic examination of ears, microbiological examination of the ear swab, aural suctioning and subjective assessment of symptoms by visual analog scale. In group A, we saw a statistically significant improvement in the different items measured. A topical suspension of bacterial antigens was significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of CSOM.