Low Dose Steroids To Prevent Further Hearing Loss

[beeinformed]

Hi!

I went to my rheumatologist a couple of weeks ago and he said that if I am told by the ent specialist that my bi-lateral mild hearing loss is irreversible that I should take a low dose of medrol to prevent further hearing loss.

Does anyone have experience/and or knowledge that taking low dose steroids to prevent further hearing loss can indeed prevent it from getting worse?

So far, while perusing the internet, I have not seen any studies and/or research that suggests taking low dose steroids to prevent further hearing loss.

I would appreciate any thoughts/comments based upon your own experience and/or knowledge on whether low dose steroids can prevent further hearing loss.

Thanks!

[Sangye]

Personally I would only accept that opinion from a Wegs specialist rheumy in agreement with a Wegs specialist ENT.

[beeinformed]

Hi Sangye!

Thanks for a swift reply! Both the rheumatologist and the ent doctor specialize in wegs. I have not yet made an appointment with the ent specialist, so I guess I have to wait and see what he has to say about using low dose steroids to prevent further hearing loss.

I was just wondering if you have ever heard about anyone using low dose steroids to prevent further hearing loss?

I would be willing to give this treatment option a try if I knew if would actually prevent me from getting further hearing loss.

Do you think this might be a viable treatment option? Thanks!

[Sangye]

I don't know where you go for treatment, but at JHU whenever a doc says something like that they back it up with research and statistics. I don't even have to ask. They go through all the different options and explain the research behind each. They also tell me when something is unknown or has little research to back it up, and why they think I should or should not do a treatment under those conditions.

I hope your docs are doing that for you. It takes all the stress out of decision-making to use evidence-based medicine.

[elephant]

How many mg of prednisone is low dose according to the ENT who made this suggestion?

[Jeff vinc]

I personnaly have hearing loss every time i have a flare and the steroids bring my hearing back to normal every time. But this is in my situation...it might be different from a person to another.

[JanW]

I have to say that I agree with Sangye. My rheumy would immediately quote the studies that back up his opinion. If he has a true 'opinion' he immediately says that it's 'experience not evidenced' based. So for instance, he quoted a large scale study to me when he suggested that I continue on Vit D but not take calcium. And, he said, that in his 'experience' he would prefer to take me off mtx in warmer weather, to separate out any possible 'noise' (e.g. joint stiffness because of the cold weather, possible cold/sinus infections from being indoors, crusting from air dryness, etc.).

[gurinbasra]

I also have been back on high dosage pred every time my hearing went down due to active WG - haven't ever heard of it being the other way around, unless you're experiencing tinnitus which can be caused by antibiotics - never seen a steroid on a list for causing hearing loss. But, I would confirm it with an ENT specialist, in my situation, my WG specialist really has no idea about the extend of hearing loss other than it's a symptom of WG.

Keep us informed as I'm interested!

Gurinder