Streptomycin in Meniere's Disease: Long-Term Follow-Up

Abstract

EIGHT patients who had been given streptomycin sulfate parenterally in the treatment of Ménière's disease were reexamined and the findings reported in 1957 by Schuknecht.¹ These patients had been followed for periods varying between 14 and 52 months after the drug was administered to the point of suppression of semicircular canal function with resulting ataxia. The noteworthy findings reported in 1957 (hereafter termed the first follow-up) were freedom from vertiginous attacks in all eight patients, significant improvement in auditory thresholds in four of the five with unilateral disease, and in one of the three with bilateral disease. There was no loss of hearing in either the normal or diseased ears. Four of these patients agreed to come to the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in 1963 (second follow-up) for medical evaluation and to participate in experiments. Approximately two years later, a limited opportunity was taken (third follow-up) to inquire into