Intratympanic gentamicin therapy for control of vertigo in unilateral Menière's disease: a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Abstract

Conclusions. Intratympanic application of gentamicin is a relatively safe and efficient treatment for the reduction of complaints of vertigo attacks associated with Menière's disease. The treatment also reduces the severity of the perceived aural fullness. Objective. To investigate the effectiveness of intratympanic gentamicin treatment in patients with unilateral Menière's disease. Subjects and methods. In a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial subjects scored vertigo complaints, aural fullness and tinnitus, before, during and up to 1 year after treatment. Hearing loss was monitored with pure tone audiometry. Results. Gentamicin treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the score for vertigo complaints and the score for perceived aural fullness. A small increase in hearing loss (average 8 dB) was measured in the gentamicin group.