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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 May-Jun;82(3):269-74.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2015.04.016. Epub 2015 Oct 17.

Antioxidant therapy in the elderly with tinnitus

José Fernando Polanski  1 , Alexandra Dezani Soares  2 , Oswaldo Laércio de Mendonça Cruz  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Antioxidant therapy in the elderly with tinnitus

José Fernando Polanski et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 May-Jun.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Introduction: Several approaches have been tried for the treatment of tinnitus, from cognitive-behavioral therapies and sound enrichment to medication. In this context, antioxidants, widely used in numerous areas of medicine, appear to represent a promising approach for the control of this symptom, which often is poorly controlled.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of antioxidant therapy for tinnitus in a group of elderly patients.

Methods: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The sample consisted of 58 subjects aged 60 years or older, with a complaint of tinnitus associated with sensorineural hearing loss. These individuals completed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire before and after six months of therapy. The treatment regimens were: Ginkgo biloba dry extract (120mg/day), α-lipoic acid (60mg/day)+vitamin C (600mg/day), papaverine hydrochloride (100mg/day)+vitamin E (400mg/day), and placebo.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between THI by degree (p=0.441) and by score (p=0.848) before and after treatment.

Conclusion: There was no benefit from the use of antioxidant agents for tinnitus in this sample.

Introdução: Uma série de abordagens terapêuticas tem sido empregada no tratamento do zumbido, desde terapias cognitivo-comportamentais e de enriquecimento sonoro até terapias medicamentosas. Nesse contexto, os agentes antioxidantes, amplamente utilizados em diversas áreas da medicina, parecem representar uma perspectiva promissora para o controle desse sintoma, que muitas vezes tem um controle clínico insatisfatório.

Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da terapia com agentes antioxidantes sobre o zumbido em um grupo de pacientes idosos.

Método: Ensaio clínico prospectivo, randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado por placebo.A amostra composta de 58 indivíduos com 60 anos ou mais, com queixa clínica de zumbido associado à perda auditiva, do tipo neurossensorial, em graus variados. Esses indivíduos foram submetidos ao questionário THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) antes e após 6 meses de uso da medicação. Os esquemas terapêuticos foram os seguintes: extrato seco de Ginkgobiloba (120 mg/dia), ácido α-lipóico (60 mg/dia) + vitamina C (600 mg/dia), cloridrato de papaverina (100 mg/dia) + vitamina E (400 mg/dia) e placebo.

Resultados: O THI após o tratamento foi estatisticamente igual ao THI antes do tratamento, tanto em graus (p = 0,441) quanto em escores (p = 0,848).

Conclusão: Não se verificou benefício estatisticamente significativo com o uso de agentes antioxidantes para o zumbido dos indivíduos avaliados.

Keywords: Aged; Antioxidantes; Antioxidants; Idoso; Tinnitus; Zumbido.

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References

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