Abstract
Ninety-seven patients who suffered from sudden sensorineural hearing loss were treated with high doses of steroids with or without PGE1. Using follow-up audiograms obtained one month after initial treatment, recovery rates were compared in these two groups. The overall recovery rate of the patients treated with PGE1 was 72% and this was significantly higher than that of the patients treated without PGE1 (44%). Especially in the 50 and older age group, PGE1 had a statistically significant effect on the recovery of hearing, even in patients with severe hearing loss. These results imply that the primary cause of sudden sensorineural hearing loss is the obstruction of circulation in the blood vessels which supply the inner ear.
