Clinical efficacy of nerve growth factor in the treatment of blast-induced hearing loss: a pilot study

S.-Q. Zhai, N. Yu, Y.-H. Zhu, L.-W. Chen, Y.-Y. Ma

Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China. zhaisq@301hospital.com.cn

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• Otorhinolaryngology

OBJECTIVE: There is no effective therapy for blast-induced hearing loss in the clinic. The present report summaries our case series with using nerve growth factor in the treatment of patients with various blast-induced hearing loss.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the clinical outcomes of 21 patients (33 ears) seen in our Outpatient Service Clinic who were treated with nerve growth factor (NGF) by intramuscular injection for 10 days. The pure tone audiometry changes before and after NGF treatments were measured for five frequencies.

RESULTS: Among the 21 patients with blast-induced hearing loss (33 ears) treated with 10-d NGF injection, the mean value of pure tone audiometry for the 5 frequencies for all the 33 ears after NGF treatment was significantly improved (p = 0.01). Three patients (6 ears) had hearing improved in different degrees, with average hearing being recovered by 15 dB HL. The total effective rate of the treatment was 18%.

CONCLUSIONS: Nerve growth factor can be used to treat blast-induced hearing loss in clinic. The key to clinical success is early treatment; the efficacy on the patients with late treatment (more than one-month after injury is poor).

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