Abstract
Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is a common otologic emergency whose cause is still unclear. The importance of blood lipids in the pathogenesis of ISSHL is widely reported in literature. In fact elevated levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), total cholesterol (TC) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) have been proposed as risk factors for this pathology. No correlation has been described between serum lipid parameters and the prognosis of ISSHL. Aim of the present study was to identify prognostic factors associated with hearing recovery in a group of patients affected by ISSHL. Ninety-four patients with the diagnosis of ISSHL hospitalized between March 2013 and October 2014 were included in this study. Patients’ blood sampling and hearing assessments were carried out. Patients were divided into two groups as “recovered” and “unrecovered”, according to their response to the treatment. We found a statistically significant higher level of total cholesterol in the unrecovered group compared to the recovered one (p = 0.03). None of the other routine laboratory parameters have shown a statistically significant difference between the patients successfully treated and patients with poor outcomes. Total cholesterol concentrations may be a prognostic factor for recovery in ISSHL and should be assessed together with routine tests in patients with this condition. The other routine laboratory parameters seem to have no effect on the development and prognosis of this pathology.
Highlights
Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSHL) is commonly defined as a hearing loss of at least 30 Db_AE: Speech Reception Threshold (dB) over 3 contiguous test frequencies occurring within a 72-h period [1]
Aim of the present study was to identify prognostic factors associated with hearing recovery in a group of patients affected by ISSHL
The results of our study show that lower total cholesterol (TC) was associated with better recovery in patients affected by ISSHL
Summary
Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSHL) is commonly defined as a hearing loss of at least 30 dB over 3 contiguous test frequencies occurring within a 72-h period [1]. Recent studies have highlighted the role of microcirculatory disturbances in the pathogenesis of this disease. This hypothesis has been supported by findings of abnormal red cell filterability [4], and increased plasmatic and whole blood viscosity [5] in ISSHL patients. Our group has previously reported that patients affected by ISSHL present higher serum levels of circulating adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) [7], a reduced percentage of circulating endothelial progenitor cells [8] and an altered flow-mediated-dilatation (FMD) [9] as clear early markers of endothelial dysfunction
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