Comparison of Intratympanic, Systemic, and Combined Steroid Therapies for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
10.3342/kjorl-hns.2018.00892
- Author:
Hyo Jun KIM
1
;
Yun Ji LEE
;
Hyun Tag KANG
;
Se A LEE
;
Jong Dae LEE
;
Bo Gyung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea. bgkim@schmc.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus;
Steroids;
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
- MeSH:
Blood Glucose;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Fasting;
Hearing;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural;
Humans;
Injection, Intratympanic;
Methods;
Otolaryngology;
Referral and Consultation;
Steroids
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2019;62(7):379-384
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether the intratympanic steroid injections might be an effective initial treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We assessed a total of 167 patients with DM and SSNHL who visited a tertiary referral otolaryngology department between January 2010 and April 2018. Forty-two patients with DM and SSNHL received intratympanic steroid injections; 48 patients with DM and SSNHL received systemic steroid treatment; and 77 patients with DM and SSNHL received a combination of systemic and intratympanic treatment. Initial and post treatment hearing levels and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were assessed, and correlations between hearing gain and the duration of DM, HbA1c, FBS were investigated. RESULTS: After steroid treatment, hearing levels were 38.87±25.35 dB in the intratympanic injection group, 41.09±28.49 dB in the systemic steroid treatment group, and 47.81±27.12 dB in the combined treatment group. Final hearing levels and hearing gain in the three groups did not differ significantly. FBS after treatment in the systemic steroid treatment and combined steroid treatment group worsened relative to the intratympanic injection group (202.00±9.40 mg/dL to 326.63±7.85 mg/dL). FBS, duration of DM, and HbA1c levels did not affect the hearing gain in patients with DM and SSNHL. CONCLUSION: Intratympanic steroid injections are comparable to the systemic steroid treatment modality for SSNHL in patients with DM. Thus, intratympanic steroid injections may serve as an effective initial treatment modality for SSNHL in patients with DM.
