N-acetylcysteine as a single therapy for sudden deafness

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Sudden deafness is a complex condition affecting inner ear function.
• Current treatments for sudden deafness have variable efficacy.
• N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) has shown potential in ameliorating inner ear damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) as a standalone therapy for sudden deafness.
• To compare NAC monotherapy with standard treatment protocols for sudden deafness.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 70 sudden deafness patients.
• Group A (35 patients) received NAC monotherapy.
• Group B (35 patients) received corticosteroids and plasma expander.
• Inner ear function was assessed using audiometry, oVEMP, cVEMP, and caloric tests.

Main Results:

• Both groups had similar pre-treatment hearing levels and vestibular test abnormalities.
• Group A demonstrated a significantly greater mean hearing gain (43 ± 27 dB) compared to Group B (21 ± 28 dB).
• The hearing improvement rate was higher in Group A (91%) than in Group B (57%).

Conclusions:

• N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) monotherapy is more effective in improving hearing in sudden deafness patients than standard treatments.
• NAC may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for sudden deafness, potentially rescuing inner ear function.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.