Comparative Analysis of the Combined Therapeutic Effects of Lipoprostaglandin E1 on Sudden Idiopathic Sensorineural Hearing Loss

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Viral and vascular disorders are considered to be a major cause of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Lipoprostaglandin E1 (lipo-PGE1) has vasodilating activity and has been used to treat ISSNHL. The purpose of this study was to determine the specific therapeutic effects of lipo-PGE1 and compare them to other treatment modalities for ISSNHL. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study group had 1,052 patients diagnosed with ISSNHL. All were treated with steroid, carbogen inhalation, stellate ganglion block (SGB), or PGE1. The CP group (steroid, carbogen inhalation, and PGE1 injection; 288 patients) was treated with lipo-PGE1 and carbogen inhalation, the CS group (steroid, carbogen inhalation, and stellate ganglion block; 232 patients) with steroid, carbogen inhalation, and SGB, the C group (steroid and carbogen inhalation; 284 patients) with steroid and carbogen, and the control group (steroid only; 248 patients) with steroid only. Patients in the groups receiving lipo-PGE1 received a continuous infusion of 10 µL lipo-PGE1. RESULTS: The overall recovery rate after treatment was 52.2%, and recovery rates by group were 67.7% in the CP group, 54.3% in the CS group, 52.1% in the C group, and 32.2% in the control group. Therefore, the therapeutic results in groups treated with lipo-PGE1 were better than results in other groups. The difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggested that the CP group received effective treatment modalities for ISSNHL. The combined therapy of lipo-PGE1 with carbogen inhalation in patients with ISSNHL was more beneficial than other treatment modalities.