Use of vasodilators in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A systematic review

To compare the effect of vasodilators with that of corticosteroids in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). A search in PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase was conducted. Two reviewers screened the data sources to identify articles that comply with predefined inclusion criteria. Studies that compared the therapeutic effect of vasodilators with prednisone or placebo in patients with ISSHL were identified. Five articles were selected, involving a total of 611 patients. The odds ratios for perceptive hearing levels (pure tone average) post treatment varied between 0.58 and 2.18. One study demonstrated a cumulative effect (optimal hearing recovery) when vasodilators and glucocorticoids were combined (odds ratio, 1.82). Vasodilators have no beneficial effect on the treatment of ISSHL. Some evidence suggests that a combination of vasodilators with steroid treatment results in better hearing outcome than the use of corticosteroids alone.