耳科学におけるEvidence-Based Medicine (EBM)

EBMから見た突発性難聴の治療

抄録

New clinical-epidemiological idea of Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), the use of current best evidence in making decisions about individual patients, have been spotlighted recently.
On the other hand, the cause and choice of treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is considered to be still controversial. In such background, a therapy for ISSHL is reviewed from the viewpint of EBM. It is concluded that steroid (Dexamethasone) is the only treatment available with a significant beneficial effect on ISSHL in systematic review.
Recommendations are made with regard to a well designed clinical trial on the treatment of ISSHL. There should be a great challenge to otolaryngologist to explore and use the principles of EBM in everyday practice and we will have to wait for further study in this particular area.