Effect of prostaglandin E1 on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a
double-blinded clinical study.
Author(s): Ogawa K, Takei S, Inoue Y, Kanzaki J.
Affiliation(s): Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
ogawak@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
Publication date & source: 2002, Otol Neurotol. , 23(5):665-8
OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN: The authors conducted a prospective, randomized,
double-blinded clinical trial for the purpose of elucidating the effects of
prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
SETTING AND PATIENTS: With the approval of the institute ethics committee, a
total of 57 consecutive patients with diagnoses of idiopathic sudden
sensorineural hearing loss were included in the study. The patients in the PGE1
group received continuous infusion containing 60 microg PGE1 and 100 mg
hydrocortisone for 7 days, and the patients in the placebo group were treated
with continuous infusion containing an inactive placebo and 100 mg
hydrocortisone.
RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the improvements of
pure-tone average and subjective symptoms between the PGE1 and the placebo
groups. However, the hearing improvement at high frequencies (4 kHz and 8 kHz)
was significantly higher in the PGE1 group than in the placebo group, especially
in the patients with severe tinnitus.
CONCLUSIONS: These results failed to prove a beneficial effect of PGE1 in the
treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Further studies will
be needed to clarify the pharmacologic actions of PGE1 in the cochlea.
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