Etiological analysis of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a prospective case–control study

Abstract

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a multifactorial emergency disease. Until now, the etiology of SSNHL is still unknown. Previous studies regarding the etiology of SSNHL are clinical studies depending on clinical data collection and analysis. Due to the insufficient sample size or various selective bias in clinical studies, the results of these studies may be inaccurate. This prospective case–control study aimed at exploring the possible etiology and risk factors of SSNHL. We enrolled 255 SSNHL patients and 255 sex-, age- and residence-matched non-SSNHL subjects in the control group. Our study shows that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes, as well as the incidence of smoking and drinking habits between the case and control groups (P > 0.05). In addition, the peripheral blood white blood cell count, neutrophil count, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and fibrinogen level of the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest smoking, drinking, hypertension and diabetes may not be related to the onset of SSNHL. However, hypercoagulable state and inner ear vascular microthrombosis related to an elevated fibrinogen level might be the risk factors of the disease. In addition, inflammation play an important role of SSNHL onset.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Registration number: ChiCTR2100048991.

Clinical Significance of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Acute Unilateral Vestibulopathy

“… 6 7 8 22 Several studies have found high NLR and PLR values to be associated with a worse prognosis in neuro-otological diseases including Bell’s palsy and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. 23 24 25 Although NLR has been considered an inflammatory biomarker in peripheral vertigo, the usefulness of this parameter as a prognostic predictor remains inconclusive in AUV. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 One study found a significant relationship between NLR and the clinical severity of AUV, but those authors evaluated the disease severity using the duration of subjective dizziness requiring antivertigo drugs, rather than using an objective questionnaire.…”

The functional status of vestibular otolith and conductive pathway in patients with unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

“…Vascular dysfunction and viral infection are considered to be the most common causes of ISSNHL. It was reported that vascular damage could increase blood viscosity, make the blood in a hypercoagulable state, cause microcirculation disorders in the inner ear, and lead to damage to cochlear hair cells, and ultrastructural changes ( 5 ). Viruses, such as the herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, mumps, cytomegalovirus, and rubella, have been considered to correlate with the pathogenesis of ISSNHL.…”

“…Although several etiologies of ISSNHL, such as viral infection, inflammation, inner ear circulation disorders, cochlear membrane breaks, and vascular occlusion, have been suggested, the exact pathogenesis is still unclear ( 3 , 5 ). Due to the anatomical proximity of the cochlea and vestibule, ISSNHL is frequently accompanied by vestibular dysfunction ( 6 , 7 ).…”

Exploring Audiologic Outcomes in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Analysis

“…Furthermore, cholesterol levels were higher in patients with SSNHL compared to controls, but no significant associations were found for smoking, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, or BMI [8]. In contrast, two studies found no association between SSNHL and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as smoking and drinking habits [9,10] or hyperlipidemia [10]. Alternatively, one study found higher levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio, and fibrinogen in patients with SSNHL [9].…”

“…In contrast, two studies found no association between SSNHL and comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as smoking and drinking habits [9,10] or hyperlipidemia [10]. Alternatively, one study found higher levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, neutrophil-tolymphocyte ratio, and fibrinogen in patients with SSNHL [9].…”