[Randomized double-blind study of therapy of sudden deafness: initial results].

Abstract Three treatment groups (hydroxyethyl starch-pentoxifylline (HAES-steril/Trental), hydroxyethyl starch-pentoxifylline-naftidrofuryl (HAES-steril/Trental/Dusodril) and dextran-pentoxifylline (Rheomacrodex/Trental] and a placebo therapy control group (normal saline) were compared in a prospective randomised study (102 patients) and a retrospective study (292 patients). The trial therapy results were the same in all groups. However all treatments on patients with a haemoglobin greater than 14 g/l result in a significant hearing improvement compared with the placebo. The patient group with systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mm Hg treated with hydroxyethyl starch-pentoxifylline had a significant hearing improvement compared with the placebo, hydroxyethyl starch-pentoxifylline-naftidrofuryl and dextran-pentoxifylline. With increasing systolic blood pressure, patients in the placebo, hydroxyethyl starch-pentoxifylline-naftidrofuryl and dextran-pentoxifylline groups had a statistically significant worse result.