Control of vertigo after intratympanic corticoid therapy for unilateral Ménière's disease: a comparison of weekly versus daily fixed protocols.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of intratympanic corticoid therapy on vertigo control and hearing changes.

Study Design: The study design was retrospective.

Setting: Tertiary medical centers.

Patients: Fifty-six patients with definite unilateral Ménière's disease, diagnosed using the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) guidelines, were included. Twenty-two patients were treated with a fixed protocol of 3 consecutive daily intratympanic injections of a 4 mg/ml dexamethasone commercial preparation. Thirty-four patients were treated with a fixed protocol of 3 consecutive weekly injections of the same preparation.

Main Outcome Measure: The 1995 AAO-HNS criteria for reporting treatment outcome in MD were used. The treatment results were expressed in terms of vertigo control. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the control of vertigo over a 2-year period. Separate curves were created depending on the protocol used and the class of vertigo control obtained.

Results: Complete vertigo control (class A) was achieved in 40.9% and 44.1% of patients on the daily and weekly protocols, respectively. Substantial vertigo control was obtained in an additional 18.2% and 14.7% of patients on the daily and weekly protocols, respectively. No significant differences were found between the 2 fixed protocols.

Conclusion: Intratympanic dexamethasone (4 mg/ml) perfusion provides an alternative treatment for definite Ménière's disease. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was useful for analyzing the control of vertigo and the recurrence of Ménière's disease.