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Transtympanic dexamethasone application in Ménière's disease: an alternative treatment for intractable vertigo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Levent Sennaroğlu*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Farzin Mottaghian Dini
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Gonca Sennaroğlu
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology Section, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Bulent Gursel
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Soner Ozkan
Affiliation:
Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology Section, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
*
Address for correspondence: Levent Sennaroğlu, M.D., Büklüm Sokak 45/16, Kavaklidere, Ankara 06660, Turkey. Fax: 90-312-3113500

Abstract

The aetiology of Ménière's disease still remains unknown and its therapy is therefore empirical. As a result of immunological abnormalities demonstrated, steroids are commonly used in Ménière's disease. The place of topical steroids is still controversial. In this investigation topical dexamethasone is applied for three months through a ventilation tube in patients with intractable vertigo. The results showed that this treatment controls vertigo in 72 per cent of cases. No patient was worse than before treatment. Only in 17 per cent of the patients was there an increase in hearing level. When compared to the reports which used only tympanostomy tubes, this procedure seems to have a placebo effect with minimal harmful effects. It appears that transtympanic dexamethasone application is a good alternative to vestibular nerve section. Topical treatment may be sufficient in most patients. Systemic treatment may be used in patients where topical treatment fails.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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