Single-shot, low-dose intratympanic gentamicin in Ménière disease: role of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and caloric test in the prediction of outcome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of single and low-dose intratympanic gentamicin therapy in patients with Ménière disease and who were monitored both with caloric tests and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) to see if VEMPs have an additional role in predicting the efficacy of the drug.

Study Design: This is a prospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center is the study setting.

Patients: Twenty-five intractable Ménière disease patients were included as the study group.

Intervention(s): Low-dose (16 mg/mL), single-shot intratympanic gentamicin was applied. VEMP and caloric test were applied 2 weeks after the application.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Safety and efficacy of protocol were evaluated at the sixth month postoperatively with tonal audiogram and visual analog scale, respectively.

Results: Mean average pure-tone hearing threshold at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz was 49.6 and 51.0 dB before and after the application, respectively (P > .05). Mean pretreatment and posttreatment visual analog scale scores of patients were 17.6 mm (10-30 mm) and 74.6 mm (41-100 mm), respectively (P < .01). Posttreatment VEMPs were absent in 17, deteriorated in 2, and not changed in 6 patients. VEMP was a significant predictor of posttreatment visual analog scale score, whereas caloric test was not (P < .01).

Conclusions: Low-dose, single-shot intratympanic gentamicin treatment proved to be effective and safe among intractable Ménière patients. VEMPs obtained at posttreatment second week were significant predictors of patients posttreatment sixth-month dizziness status and vertigo control.