Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (R) or pentoxifylline for the treatment of sudden deafness: A randomized, reference-controlled, double-blind study

In a randomized, prospective, double-blind study involving 72 patients, the therapeutic efficacy of ginkgo extract EGb 761(R) (n = 37) was compared to that of pentoxifylline (n = 35) for the treatment of sudden deafness. The two therapeutic schedules were equally well tolerated and showed a statisti cally significant equivalence in improvement or in return to normal of the auditory thresholds in the two patient groups. Furthermore, no differences were found between the treatment groups with regard to the criteria for a r eturn to normal of speech discrimination and reduction of the tinnitus whic h arose at the same time as the sudden hearing loss. The patient's subjecti ve assessment of the treatment with regard to improvement in hearing and re duction in tinnitus suggested that Ginkgo biloba extract was more beneficia l than pentoxifylline. In summary, it was shown that treatment of sudden de afness with ginkgo special extract EGb 761 was as effective as treatment wi th pentoxifylline.