The effects of etidronate disodium on progressive hearing loss from otosclerosis.

A 2-year prospective double-blind study was performed to evaluate the role of etidronate disodium for the treatment of progressive hearing loss in patients with otosclerosis. A pulsed dosage regimen was used during the 2-year period and the patients were followed up with otologic and audiometric examinations. Although statistically significant differences were not achieved between the study and control groups, the study did reveal a trend toward stabilization or improvement in air conduction thresholds in some frequencies (1000 and 4000 Hz) and in bone conduction thresholds at other frequencies (500, 1000, and 2000 Hz). The incidence of adverse side effects was similar in the treatment and control groups. Although no definite conclusions can be drawn from this pilot study, the findings provide encouragement for performing a larger and longer-term study.