Therapeutic Effect of Zinc and Lipoprostaglandin E1 for Idiopathic Sudden Hearing Loss

Abstract

Received September 12, 2014 Revised November 16, 2014 Accepted November 27, 2014 Address for correspondence Ah-Young Kim, MD Department of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Eulji University, 95 Dunsanseo-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 302-799, Korea Tel +82-42-611-3129 Fax +82-42-611-3136 E-mail kimayong@eulji.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZWe aimed to analyze the therapeutic effect of zinc, lipoprostaglandin E1 in addition to systemic steroid therapy on hearing improvement for the treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss. Subjects and MethodZZRetrospective medical chart reviews of 500 patients who had been diagnosed with unilateral idiopathic sudden hearing loss between May 2006 and April 2014 were performed. Then, we conducted a multiple linear regression analysis using the data of individual patients. ResultsZZBetter hearing gain was associated with low tone hearing loss (p<0.001), better initial contralateral hearing (p<0.001), and the absence of dizziness (p=0.015). Patients who underwent intratympanic steroid treatment as salvage treatment showed a lower hearing gain (p<0.001). Zinc supplementation was effective for the treatment of patients with mild hearing loss (p<0.001). On the contrary, significant improvements in hearing gain were found in patients with profound hearing loss who were treated with an additional lipoprostaglandin E1 (p<0.001). ConclusionZZAn additional use of zinc and lipoprostaglandin E1 may enhance hearing improvement for the treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2015;58(5):318-23