Effects of mannitol on the fluids of the internal ear. use in the treatment of deafness
Sterkers, O.; Leriche, P.; Ferrary, E.; Paquelin, F.
Annales d'Oto-Laryngologie et de Chirurgie Cervico Faciale Bulletin de la Societe d'Oto-Laryngologie des Hopitaux de Paris 104(2): 127-135
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-438X PMID: 3111336 Document Number: 299466
The action of mannitol upon the inner ear fluids was studied experimentally by means of kinetics of mannitol entry into cochlear perilymph and endolymph in rats. A daily two hours infusion of 10% mannitol induces an osmotic water flow from cochlear fluids toward plasma. Following this therapeutic protocol, progressive, non-tumoral sensorineural hearing loss is enhanced in 32% of the cases. The rate of hearing improvement is larger than 50% in case of Ménière's disease. For sudden hearing loss, 75% of the cases are improved by mannitol, and 92% of the cases when the delay between the hearing loss onset and the mannitol therapy is less than two weeks. Sudden hearing loss should be considered as a sensory emergency.