ROSUVASTATIN AS A POSSIBLE TREATMENT FOR SUDDEN SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS

Objective: To determine the role of Rosuvastatin as a possible treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: ENT Departments, Combined Military Hospital Quetta & Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from Apr 2015 to Sep 2017. Methodology: This quasi-experimental study performed at Combined Military Hospital Quetta & Combined Military Hospital Lahore comprised of seventy-eight patients of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) having hyperlipidemia. Patients pre-treatment total serum cholesterol was measured, and hearing loss in speech frequencies was recorded on audiometry. The seventy-eight patients were administered tablet Rosuvastatin 10mg once daily with low fat diet for 4 months. On completion of 4 months of treatment, patients were selected by using non probability purposive sampling and divided into responder and non-responder group depending on total serum cholesterol levels. Post treatment total serum cholesterol levels and improvement in hearing levels were also recorded and graded according to siegel’s criteria. Results: Total serum cholesterol came to within normal limits in 43 (55.1%) patients (responder), while it remained high in 35 (44.9%) patients (non-responder group). Improvement in hearing scores was assessed using siegel’s criteria. pearson chi square test showed statistically significant improvement (p=0.001) in hearing scores among responder group as compared to non-responder group. Conclusion: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss, in patients having hyperlipidemia, can be managed by treating hyperlipidemia with lipidlowering agent rosuvastatin