does application of glucocorticoids make sense?
GROUND: Treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) consists of administration of blood flow-promoting drugs with or without the addition of glucocorticoids. General guidelines based on scientific data do not currently exist. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of glucocorticoids on the treatment of SSNHL. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the audiograms of 603 patients with SSNHL: 301 patients (cared for between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 1991) received intravenous blood flow-promoting drugs without glucocorticoids and 302 patients (cared for between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 1998) received intravenous blood flow-promoting drugs with glucocorticoids (intravenous +/- oral application). The age distribution of patients with SSNHL in lower, middle, and higher frequencies was similar in both groups. RESULTS: Patients with SSNHL in lower and middle frequencies (250-2000 Hz) who received glucocorticoids (prednisolo