Publisher's Synopsis
The inner ear was previously considered an isolated and inviolate sense organ that is unlikely to be affected by local treatments. However, with the application of vestibulotoxic and immunosuppressive drugs and through experience with cochlear implants our understanding of drug effects upon the inner ear has improved. This has led to the application of new drugs and biological agents to the round window of the middle ear as one potential route to gain access to the inner ear. A better understanding of the permeability of the membrane, the kinetics of drug diffusion within the cochlea and the possible ototoxicity of these drugs has emerged. This special issue explores the strategies being employed in the rapidly expanding new field of Inner Ear Medicine to seek out new treatments for currently untreatable diseases and disorders.
