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Acute Unilateral Vestibulopathy and Corticosteroid Treatment

Phase 4
Terminated
Conditions
Vestibular Diseases
Vestibular Neuronitis
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT02912182
Lead Sponsor
Lund University
Brief Summary

Randomized placebo controlled trial on patients suffering from acute unilateral vestibulopathy. Patients will be randomized into 3 arms; 1) Placebo only, 2) Short corticosteroid treatment (3days) 3) Longer corticosteroid treatment (11 days).

Vestibular function as well as subjective symptoms will be estimated in the acute stage and regularly up to one year after the debut.

Detailed Description

Randomized controlled trial in 3 arms to see if a short or a even shorter period of steroid treatment on patients diagnosed with vestibular neuritis can be as effective as the only comparable study thus far (Strupp et al, NEJM 22, 351(4) 354-61). If a shorter treatment with a lower dose has the same outcome, then more patients might be eligible for the treatment as many are excluded due to risk for adverse effects.

Corticosteroid treatment in acute unilateral vestibulopathy has recently been the subject for a Cochrane review with the conclusion of insufficient evidence for treatment effect and recommend studies with subjective symptom based evaluation together with functional testing.

Patients with acute unilateral vestibulopathy diagnosed within 48hrs after debut. The patients (after acceptance) will be randomized into either of 3 arms and will receive placebo/short treatment (3days)/standard treatment (in Sweden 11 days).

Patients will record subjective symptoms according to Liknert scale during the acute stage and fill out enquiries after 3 and 12 months.

Vestibular function will be assessed with caloric irrigation and video-Head-Impulse-Test (vHIT) as soon as possible after the debut and again after 1, 3 and 12 months.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
78
Inclusion Criteria
  • definite unilateral vestibulopathy
  • no pathological HINTS (examination criteria in acute vestibular syndrome)
  • capable of making their own decisions
Exclusion Criteria
  • tinnitus or hearing loss with same debut as vertigo
  • history of bleeding peptic ulcer
  • glaucoma
  • pregnancy or non-acceptance to use anticonception measures during 13 days after debut
  • high blood pressure >180 systolic, 105, diastolic
  • ketoacidosis with a Base Excess >=2
  • psychic disorder (not including mild depression)
  • serious infection (neutropenia, tuberculosis)
  • chronic otitis
  • history of vertiginous disease; Ménière, Vertiginous migraine, atypical BPPV

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlaceboDay 1: Intravenous sodium-chloride 2ml Day 2-6: 10 tablets placebo Day 7: 8 tablets placebo Day 8: 6 tablets placebo Day 9: 4 tablets placebo Day 10: 2 tablets placebo Day 11: 1 tablet placebo
Short treatmentBetamethasoneDay 1: Intravenous betamethasone 8mg (2ml of 4mg/ml) Day 2-3: 10 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 4-6: 10 tablets placebo Day 7: 8 tablets placebo Day 8: 6 tablets placebo Day 9: 4 tablets placebo Day 10: 2 tablets placebo Day 11: 1 tablet placebo
Short treatmentPrednisoloneDay 1: Intravenous betamethasone 8mg (2ml of 4mg/ml) Day 2-3: 10 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 4-6: 10 tablets placebo Day 7: 8 tablets placebo Day 8: 6 tablets placebo Day 9: 4 tablets placebo Day 10: 2 tablets placebo Day 11: 1 tablet placebo
Standard treatmentBetamethasoneDay 1: Intravenous betamethasone 8mg (2ml of 4mg/ml) Day 2-6: 10 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 7: 8 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 8: 6 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 9: 4 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 10: 2 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 11: 1 tablet prednisolone 5 mg
Standard treatmentPrednisoloneDay 1: Intravenous betamethasone 8mg (2ml of 4mg/ml) Day 2-6: 10 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 7: 8 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 8: 6 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 9: 4 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 10: 2 tablets prednisolone 5 mg Day 11: 1 tablet prednisolone 5 mg
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Caloric function1 year

Warm (44deg C) and cold (30 deg C) water irrigation of the ear canals of both ears. Jongkees formula (ratio of response between the ears) is assessed for abnormal or normal function

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Saliva-CortisolAt debut and up to 1 week

Daily measurement of saliva cortisol as measurement of stress

Hospital stayFrom debut up to 10 days

Duration of hospital stay

Daily livingdebut up to 1 year

Time until daily activities are as prior to th disease

Vertigo DiaryDaily from debut and until no subjective vertigo is experienced, longest 4 weeks

Self-assessment of vertigo according to a Liknert scale daily (1= no vertigo and 10= worst possible vertigo

Sleep DiaryDaily from debut and 14 days onwards (2 days after last treatment)

Patients often experience troubled sleep when treated with corticosteroids. How much has not been assessed. The patients will assess their sleep the previous night according to a Liknert scale (1=good nights sleep, 10=hardly slept at all)

VSS-enquiry3 and 12 months after debut

Vertigo sympton score, To assess vertigo symptoms

VHQ-enquiry3 and 12 months after debut

Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire. To assess the degree of how vertigo affect daily life

vHIT1 year

measurement of vestibulo-ocular reflex in all semicircular canals. Gain \<0.7 (ratio between head and eye movement) is regarded as pathological

Subjective visual vertical/horizontal1 year

Assessment of spatial orientation or utricular function (of the inner ear) as a measure of degree of vestibular loss and of compensation

Covert saccades1 year

Covert catch-up eye saccades are sometimes seen during vHIT. The origin is unknown. The frequency as well as latency times will be analyzed and correlated to subjective measures

HADS-enquiry3 and 12 months after debut

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. To asses the degree of anxiety and depression among the patients, often associated with chronic dizziness

Adverse EventsFrom debut to 1 year after

Analysis of adverse events to treatment as well as functional outcome

DHI-enquiry3 and 12 months after debut

Dizziness Handicap Inventory, to assess the degree of how dizziness affect daily life

Stress hormonesAt debut and 1 year

Measurement of Plasma thyroid hormones, adrenocorticoid hormones (ACTH, Cortisone) as stress indicators in acute vertigo. Baseline will be taken 1 year after debut

Sick-leavedebut up to 1 year

Time needed for sick-leave

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Dept OtoRhinoLaryngology

🇸🇪

Helsingborg, Sweden

Dept. OtoRhinoLaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Skane University Hospital

🇸🇪

Lund, Sweden

Dept. Otorhinolaryngology

🇸🇪

Kristianstad, Sweden

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