ALPHA-INTERFERON FOR THE TREATMENT OF IDIOPATHIC SUDDEN SENSORINEURALHEARING-LOSS

We have employed alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha), an anti-viral agent, in the treatment of severe idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). Forty-two patients were studied and had an average hearing ab ility of greater than or equal to 70 dB before treatment. We also exam ined 2'-5'oligoadenylate synthetase (2,5A-S) activity, one of the para meters indicating anti-viral activity of IFN, to investigate the relat ionship between the suppression of viral proliferation and prognosis a nd explain the pathogenesis of ISSHL. Complete recovery was found in 2 7 patients (64.3%) after IFN therapy. Increased 2,5A-S activity was ob served on the 3rd day of IFN therapy in 24 of the 27 patients who comp letely recovered. No severe adverse events were reported after IFN the rapy. Findings suggest that IFN therapy may be effective and safe in t he treatment of ISSHL and calls for further investigation.