Low-dose intratympanic gentamicin administration for unilateral Meniere's disease using a method based on clinical symptomatology: Preliminary results

Am J Otolaryngol. 2019 Nov-Dec;40(6):102289. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2019.102289. Epub 2019 Sep 9.

Abstract

Purpose: There are many therapeutic options for Meniere's disease (MD); intratympanic (IT) gentamicin has been proposed for intractable cases although controversy about dosage and method exists. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose IT gentamicin on vertigo attacks in MD using a clinical symptomatology-based method in which administration was repeated only if vertigo attacks recurred, with a 2-week interval between injections.

Materials and methods: Forty-eight patients with unilateral intractable MD were included in the study. All patients received one to five IT injections with 0.5 ml of 10 mg of gentamicin (80 mg/2 ml) with an interval of 2 weeks between injections. Vertigo attacks were evaluated before and after therapy and categorized into classes A-F according to the 2015 Equilibrium Committee criteria. Audiovestibular assessment with pure tone audiometry, vestibular bed-side examination and video head impulse test was performed.

Results: Before treatment patients had an average of 4.4 vertigo attacks/month; after treatment the average number decreased to 0.52. The majority of patients (77%) reached Class A vertigo control with 5 or less gentamicin injections. VOR gain was unaffected in the healthy side and significantly reduced in the affected side. No hearing deterioration was found in all treated patients.

Conclusions: Low-dose IT gentamicin administration based on clinical symptomatology can produce a satisfactory control of vertigo attacks after treatment; such protocol had an effect mainly on the vestibular function as demonstrated by the significant reduction in VOR gain in the affected side avoiding a cochlear damage.

Keywords: Gentamicin; Hearing loss; Intratympanic injection; Meniere disease; Vertigo.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Gentamicins / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Injection, Intratympanic
  • Male
  • Meniere Disease / complications*
  • Meniere Disease / drug therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Symptom Assessment
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vertigo / etiology
  • Vertigo / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins