O-15 Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of chronic subjective non-pulsatile primary tinnitus case report

Background Therapy of subjective chronic primary tinnitus could be challenging. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is currently being tested for suppressing the symptom. However, effect of stimulation remains controversial. Objective The aim was to uncover real effect of rTMS stimulation for tinnitus treatment. Methods Fifty-three adult patients suffering from chronic subjective non-pulsatile primary tinnitus for at least 6 months were included in the study. Patients were randomly assigned into rTMS stimulation group (group 1), sham stimulation group (group 2) and group with medicament therapy only (group 3). Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (frequency 25 Hz; 300 pulses; 80% resting motor threshold = RMT) and primary auditory cortex on both sides (1 Hz; 1000 pulses; 110% RMT) were stimulated in patients in rTMS stimulation group for 5 consecutive days. Tinnitus reaction questionnaire (TRQ), tinnitus handicap questionnaire (THQ), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), pure-tone audiometry with Fowler scoring of hearing loss and tinnitus analysis were used for evaluation of tinnitus in all patients. Data was recorded in the day patient was included in the study, during follow-up after 1 month and 6 months. Results No significant effect of rTMS stimulation after 1 month and 6 months was found in our study in BDI, THQ and TRQ score or in tinnitus masking. There was significant effect in THI score ater 1 ano 6 months. We would like to present case reports of 2 patients with the effect of stimulation, in which the deterioration of the socioeconomic state leaded to a marked deterioration of tinnitus.