What Researchers Did
Researchers measured blood levels of two growth factors, VEGF and bFGF, in patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sudden hearing loss or tinnitus, tracking how the levels changed over the course of treatment.
What They Found
This clinical study of 43 patients treated with HBO for sudden sensorineural hearing loss or tinnitus, given as 10 daily sessions of 90 minutes each, found that bFGF levels showed a significant decrease during the 10 days of therapy, with no difference tied to age or sex. VEGF concentration did not change significantly during HBO, and the ratio of VEGF to bFGF also showed no significant change. Women had significantly higher VEGF levels than men, though VEGF levels were not related to age.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For patients undergoing HBOT for sudden hearing loss or tinnitus, this study reports a measurable drop in blood bFGF levels during therapy, while VEGF levels stayed steady. The abstract does not report whether these blood changes corresponded to actual improvement in hearing or tinnitus symptoms, so no conclusion about symptom benefit can be drawn from this data alone.
Canadian Relevance
No direct Canadian connection identified.
Study Limitations
The abstract reports growth factor levels compared against a control group but does not describe randomization, blinding, or whether the changes in bFGF and VEGF translated into any measured improvement in hearing or tinnitus outcomes.