[Clinical study on the use of urografin in the treatment of sudden deafness. Necessary preliminary study, results and review].

We treated 33 patients with a sudden hearing loss with Natrium - Meglumine-diatrizoat (Urografin) when all other standard therapy had failed. Detailed investigations were carried out, and thorough measures were taken against anaphylactic reactions before and during the intravenous administration of Urografin. In 10 cases (30%) an improvement of hearing of at least 20 dB was observed with restitution of almost normal hearing in some cases. The treatment was most successful in those cases where an excessive hearing loss (more than 40 dB) occurred for the first time. Since the drug is only intended for diagnostic use, further use as a therapeutic agent will require legal endorsement.