LOW-DOSE INTRATYMPANIC GENTAMICIN AND THE TREATMENT OF MENIERES-DISEASE - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS

The most disabling symptom for most patients with unilateral Meniere's disease is vertigo, Eradication of the diseased end organ is effectiv e in eliminating the vertigo. Labyrinthectomy remains the ''gold stand ard''; unfortunately, residual hearing is sacrificed to obtain this en d, The purpose of this study is to evaluate low-dose intratympanic gen tamicin for the control of vertigo and for the preservation of hearing . A single dose of gentamicin (10-80 mg) was injected into the middle ear space of 23 patients with unilateral Meniere's disease as an offic e procedure. Eighty-four percent of the patients had no episodes of ve rtigo during the last 6 months of follow-up, Pure tone average and wor d discrimination scores were unchanged as a group, Ninety-five percent of patients had a hearing loss at 6 and 8 kHz that averaged 7.5 dB. C aloric function was reduced in 93%. Low-dose intratympanic gentamicin is a safe, simple, office procedure that is effective in controlling t he definitive vertiginous episodes in most patients with unilateral Me niere's disease. Control of vertigo can be obtained with preservation of hearing.