Corticosteroid treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: analysis of an RCT and material drawn from the Swedish national database.

A randomized placebo-controlled study has demonstrated no effect of prednisolone in customary dosage on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). The aim of the present paper is to analyse a larger patient group by meta-analysis of data from the RCT together with a corresponding material drawn from the Swedish national database for ISSNHL. Data from 192 patients, 18-80 years with ISSNHL, were available.

Corticosteroid treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the effect of Prednisolone and placebo on the recovery of unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial.

Setting: Four tertiary and 10 secondary referral centers.

Assessment of diagnostic approaches to idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss and their influence on treatment and outcome.

Conclusion: Results from a database for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) demonstrate no correlation between laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome in 400 patients. The patients with pathological test results were not treated differently from those with normal test results. The value of laboratory findings and MRI might increase if the results are categorized to more specific diagnoses.

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: results drawn from the Swedish national database.

Conclusion: The first results from 300 patients in a Swedish national database for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) demonstrate that corticosteroids or 'no treatment at all' are the treatment options in use today. No significant difference in outcome was seen between treated and non-treated patients. Since spontaneous recovery might be the cause, a placebo-controlled randomized study is required before a positive effect of corticosteroids can be asserted.

[A national database could solve the issue of sudden sensorineural hearing loss].

A national database is being organised for the disease Sudden Sensorineural Hearing-loss, SSH (often called "Sudden deafness"). The cause of SSH is unknown. Many theories have given rise to many treatment regimens: the vascular theory, assuming a reduced blood flow to the inner ear, the infection theory, assuming bacteria or virus being the etiological agent, and the auto-immune theory, where also blood vessels may be involved.