Treatment of sudden hearing loss with diatrizoate meglumine (Hypaque)

Between March and November 1976, 30 patients with sudden hearing loss (SHL) were treated with vasodilators and diatrizoate meglumine (Hypaque). Nine (30%) of the patients had a good response, 7 (23%) had a moderate response, and 14 (47%) had no response to treatment. Most of the patients who responded were treated within the first month and had no vertigo associated on their onset of SHL. Their hearing loss was also less than 90 dB for any of the frequencies tested. Using the criteria of SHL of less than one month's duration, no vertigo associated with onset, and a loss less than 90 dB, seven patients were treated with vasodilator plus Hypaque during the period between January and August 1977. Six (86%) of the seven patients had return of serviceable hearing.