Intratympanic gentamicin treatment for unilateral Ménière's disease: long-term follow up of a proven regime

Abstract

To determine the long-term efficacy of a fixed-dose intratympanic gentamicin treatment regime in controlling unilateral Ménière's disease. Pfleiderer (1998) published two-year follow-up results for a series of 16 patients treated with a 4-day, 12-dose intratympanic gentamicin regime for unilateral Ménière's disease that was refractory to medical treatment. In 2010, a long-term telephone follow up (mean 17 years and 3 months) of this same cohort was conducted to determine long-term vertigo control. Of the 16 patients, 13 were eligible for the long-term follow up. At 2 years' follow up, all 16 patients experienced substantial control of vertigo, with complete control achieved in 87 per cent of cases. At the long-term follow up, 9 of the 13 eligible patients were contactable, and all reported complete control of vertigo. Fixed-dose intratympanic gentamicin controlled symptomatic unilateral Ménière's disease in both the short and long term.