Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus

 

Abstract

Background

This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 2, 2004 and previously updated in 2007.

Tinnitus can be described as the perception of sound in the absence of external acoustic stimulation. At present no specific therapy for tinnitus is acknowledged to be satisfactory in all patients. There are a number of reports in the literature suggesting that Ginkgo biloba may be effective in the management of tinnitus. However, there also appears to be a strong placebo effect in tinnitus management.

Objectives

To assess the effect of Ginkgo biloba in patients who are troubled by tinnitus.

Search methods

We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; AMED; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; mRCT and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 22 September 2009, following a previous search update in January 2006.

Selection criteria

Adults (18 years and over) complaining of tinnitus.
Adults with a primary complaint of cerebral insufficiency where tinnitus forms part of the syndrome.

Data collection and analysis

Both authors independently extracted data and assessed trials for quality.

Main results

Three trials were included in the review (a further ten were excluded on methodological grounds). Several trials of Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus in patients with cerebral insufficiency were identified but none reached a satisfactory standard for inclusion in the review. There was no evidence that Ginkgo biloba was effective for the primary complaint of tinnitus. The incidence of side effects was small.

Authors' conclusions

The limited evidence did not demonstrate that Ginkgo biloba was effective for tinnitus which is a primary complaint. There was no reliable evidence to address the question of whether Ginkgo biloba is effective for tinnitus associated with cerebral insufficiency.

 

Plain language summary

Ginkgo biloba for tinnitus

People with tinnitus hear sounds such as crackling or whistling in the absence of external noise. Noises appear to arise in the ears or inside the head and may be experienced all of the time, or only intermittently. The causes of tinnitus are not yet fully understood and a variety of treatments are offered including medication, psychotherapy, noise 'maskers' and Tinnitus Retraining Therapy. The review of trials assessed the effectiveness of extract of Ginkgo biloba. Few good quality trials were found and there was no evidence that Ginkgo biloba is effective for tinnitus. Further research is needed.

 

摘要

背景

用銀杏治療耳鳴

當無外在聲音刺激時卻有聲音的感覺稱為耳鳴,目前並沒有任何針對耳鳴的治療被病人承認是有令人滿意效果的。有一些文獻認為銀杏對於治療耳鳴可能有效，然而其結果似乎來自於強的安慰劑效果

目標

評估用銀杏治療為耳鳴而苦的病人的效果

搜尋策略

搜尋 the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, Issue 4 2005), MEDLINE (1950 to 2006), EMBASE (1974 to 2006),及所收集文章的參考文獻。最近的搜尋日期為2006年1月

選擇標準

有耳鳴症狀的成人(18歲以上)。主要腦血流不足且耳鳴是其症狀之ㄧ的成人

資料收集與分析

兩位作者各自摘選資料並評估這些試驗的研究品質等級

主要結論

這篇評論含3個試驗(另10個試驗在方法學上被剔除)，有幾個試驗用銀杏治療與腦血流不足相關的耳鳴，但都沒達到符合要求的收集標準。沒有證據顯示銀杏對耳鳴為主要症狀的病人有療效，但其副作用機率很低

作者結論

這些非常有限的證據並沒有證明銀杏對耳鳴為主要症狀的病人有療效，也沒有可靠的證據顯示銀杏是否對與腦血流不足相關的耳鳴有效

翻譯人

本摘要由國泰綜合醫院方德詠翻譯

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院(National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan)統籌

總結

沒有證據顯示銀杏對耳鳴有效。耳鳴的病人在沒有聲音的刺激下會聽到聲音，例如爆裂聲或笛聲，這些噪音感覺源自耳內或頭深部，可能是持續性、或間斷的聲音。造成耳鳴的原因還沒被完全了解，而其有各式各樣的治療，包括藥物、心理治療、噪音“遮蔽器”、及耳鳴訓練療法。此篇評論評估銀杏萃取物對耳鳴的療效，但卻很少設計良好的試驗，且沒有證據顯示其有耳鳴的治療效果。需要更多的研究來證實