Ntratympanic dexamethasone treatment (idt) for control of subjective idiopathic tinnitus (sit) :our clinical experience

Authors

Prof. Dr. Antonio Cesarani (Milan, Italy)
Prof. Dr. Saverio Capobianco (Sassari, Italy)
Dr.med. Daniela Soi (Sassari, Italy)
Prof. Dr. med. Davide Antonio Giuliano (Palermo, Italy)
Dr. med. Dario Alpini (Milan, Italy)

Proceedings

XXVIII Congress of the NES - Alghero - Italy

Topics

Sensology
Hearing
Diseases
Sensology
Hearing
Sensology
Sensology
Hearing
Surgery
Sensology
Hearing
Therapy

Keywords

Dexamethasone, Inner ear drug, Tinnitus, Transtympanic perfusion technique.

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Abstract

We summarize our clinical experience with intratympanic dexamethasone treatment (IDT) for control of tinnitus. From March 2000 through February 2001, 54 patients
(23 females, 31males; mean age 49,6±7,2 yy; range 24-71 yy) suffering from subjective idiopathic tinnitus (SIT) have been observed. After that the common audiological tests had been performed, all the patients underwent to specific topodiagnostic tests in order to verify the cochlear SIT genesis. The 50 subjects positive to Furosemide test and negative to Calmaverine and Carbamazepine ones were selected for the IDT, consisting in transtympanic perfusion of 4 mg dexamethasone to the round window via the middle ear. The treatment was repeated three times a day for three consecutive months. Its short-time effects were evaluated two weeks after the last perfusion. In the 35% (17/50) of the subjects the SIT disappeared; the 40% (20/50) of them reported a good decrease of the symptom whereas the remaining 25% (13/50) didn’t experience any improvement. Therefore, we believe that the IDT represents an effective drug delivery system for SIT control, as long as it raises from inner ear disorders only and it’s treated within 3 months of the onset.