Correction to: Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® versus pentoxifylline in chronic tinnitus: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

The article Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® versus pentoxifylline in chronic tinnitus: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, written by Klára Procházková, Ivan Sejna, Jan Skutil and Ales Hahn, was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal (currently SpringerLink).

Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® versus pentoxifylline in chronic tinnitus: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial.

Background Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® and pentoxifylline are frequently prescribed for the treatment of tinnitus. Objective To compare the treatment effects of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761R and pentoxifylline. Setting The study was performed at Department of Otorhinolaryngology of University Hospital Královské Vinohrady and 3rd Medical Faculty, Charles University in Prague. Method Patients with sub-chronic or chronic tinnitus were enrolled in double-blind trial and randomized to receive 120 mg EGb 761® or 600 mg pentoxifylline, each twice a day and in double-dummy fashion over a 12-week period. Main outcome measure changes in 11-Point Box Scales for tinnitus loudness and annoyance, the abridged Tinnitus Questionnaire (Mini-TQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Results Full analysis set for efficacy analysis comprised 197 patients (EGb 761®, 99; pentoxifylline 98). For both treatment groups, significant improvements were observed in the Mini-TQ, the 11-Point Box Scales for tinnitus loudness and annoyance, the HADS anxiety score and the SDS. There was no relevant difference with regard to tinnitus-related outcomes between the two treatment groups. 20 adverse events were documented in EGb 761® group and 36 adverse events were reported for pentoxifylline group. No serious adverse event was reported during the study. Conclusion EGb 761® and pentoxifylline were similarly effective in reducing the loudness and annoyance of tinnitus as well as overall suffering of the patients. The incidence of adverse events was lower in the EGb 761® group.

A fixed combination of cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate for the treatment of patients with acute vertigo due to vestibular disorders : a randomized, reference-controlled clinical study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Vestibular dysfunction commonly leads to - often severe - vertigo symptoms. The objective of this study was to compare the antivertiginous efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate with those of betahistine in patients with acute vertigo due to vestibular disorders. METHODS: Sixty-six patients experiencing acute vertigo attacks participated in this prospective, double-blind, three-centre, comparative study. Patients who assessed at least one vertigo symptom as being of medium intensity (> or =2) on a 5-point visual analogue scale (VAS; from 0 = no symptoms to 4 = very severe symptoms) were randomly allocated to treatment with the fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg and dimenhydrinate 40 mg three times daily or betahistine 12 mg three times daily for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in mean vertigo score, as determined by patients' assessments of 12 individual vertigo symptoms on the 5-point VAS after 4 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Treatment with the fixed combination led to significantly greater improvements in mean vertigo scores than the reference therapy betahistine after 4 weeks of therapy (p = 0.013). The differences were clinically relevant, based on the Mann-Whitney estimator. Furthermore, the incidence of vertigo-associated vegetative symptoms was significantly reduced after 1 (p = 0.004) and 4 weeks (p = 0.023) in the fixed-combination group relative to the betahistine group. Three patients, all of them in the betahistine group, reported adverse events, none of which was considered serious. Almost all patients (n = 62) rated the tolerabilities of both medications as very good or good. CONCLUSION: The fixed combination of cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate was shown to be an effective and very well tolerated treatment option for patients with acute vertigo due to vestibular disorders. The combination proved to be significantly more efficient in reducing vertigo and associated vegetative symptoms than betahistine in such patients.

Cogan's syndrome: a case report.

Cogan's syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder connecting ophthalmologic and audiovestibular signs. A case of a young patient is reported, describing the evolution of her illness, and diagnostic and therapeutic measures performed. Response to treatment, including glucocorticoid therapy and hyperbaric oxygenation, is discussed. A synoptic review of knowledge of this rare disorder is incorporated.