[Randomized double-blind study of therapy of sudden deafness. Low molecular weight dextran + naftidrofuryl vs. low molecular weight dextran + placebo]

Abstract

Eighty patients with idiopathic sudden deafness existing no longer than 10 days were included in a prospective randomized double-blind study. Patients were treated for 10 days with infusions of either 10% low-molecular weight dextran or the combination of low-molecular weight dextran with naftidrofuryl. Before treatment and after 10 days hearing loss in the affected ear was determined at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz. The mean hearing loss was then calculated as the average from these values. During monotherapy with low-molecular weight dextran the mean hearing loss decreased from 40 to 27 dB compared to 38 to 17 dB when naftidrofuryl treatment was added (p < 0.01 between groups). A significant benefit of naftidrofuryl on hearing loss was also found at frequencies between 0.5 and 3 kHz. Furthermore, patients reported better improvement of tinnitus when naftidrofuryl was combined with dextran. Two patients receiving dextran alone developed side effects: one had an allergic reaction causing withdrawal of treatment, which the other case had vertigo, nausea and headache with spontaneous recovery. The results of the study showed that treatment with naftidrofuryl in addition to hemodilution with low-molecular weight dextran was of therapeutic benefit in the therapy of sudden deafness without increasing the rate of side effects.