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Intratympanic methylprednisolone injections for subjective tinnitus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 July 2009

M Topak ,
A Sahin-Yilmaz ,
T Ozdoganoglu ,
H B Yilmaz ,
M Ozbay  and
M Kulekci
M Topak
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Clinic, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
A Sahin-Yilmaz*
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Clinic, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
T Ozdoganoglu
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Clinic, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
H B Yilmaz
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Clinic, Tuzla State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
M Ozbay
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Clinic, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
M Kulekci
Affiliation:
Otolaryngology Clinic, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Asli Sahin-Yilmaz, Taksim Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi KBB Klinigi, Cihangir, 34433, Istanbul, Turkey. Fax: 90 212 2499890 E-mail: aslisahin@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Objectives:

This study aimed to determine whether intratympanically injected methylprednisolone is effective in treating subjective tinnitus refractory to medical treatment.

Study design:

Prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, single-blinded study.

Methods:

Seventy adult patients with subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin were randomly assigned to receive intratympanic injection of either methylprednisolone or saline solution. The treatment protocol comprised three intratympanic injections, one per week for three weeks. Improvement in tinnitus severity was measured by a self-rated tinnitus loudness scale and by the tinnitus severity index, at baseline and two weeks after the last injection.

Results:

Data for 59 patients were available for analysis. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups regarding age, sex, pure tone average, pretreatment tinnitus intensity, tinnitus laterality or tinnitus duration. There was a significant post-treatment improvement in self-rated tinnitus loudness scale results in both groups. No significant post-treatment changes in the tinnitus severity index individual and total scores were observed in either group. The most frequently encountered side effects were pain during injection, vertigo, a burning sensation around the ear and in the throat, and a bitter taste. A burning sensation and bitter taste were observed more often in the methylprednisolone group compared with the placebo group

Conclusion:

The results of this study indicate that intratympanic methylprednisolone has no benefit, compared with placebo, for the treatment of subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin refractory to medical treatment.

Keywords

MethylprednisoloneTinnitus

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 11 , November 2009 , pp. 1221 - 1225
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

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Footnotes

Presented orally at the 30th Turkish National Congress of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 8–12 October 2008, Antalya, Turkey.

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