Original Paper

Is There an Overlap between Sudden Neurosensorial Hearing Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Factors?
F. Ballesteros^a, I. Alobid^a, D. Tassies^b, J.C. Reverter^b, R.E. Scharf^c, J.M. Guilemany^a, M. Bernal-Sprekelsen<sup>a

a</sup>Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, and
^bDepartment of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona and Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain;
^cDepartment of Hemostasis and Transfusion Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Medical Center, Düsseldorf, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Audiol Neurotol 2009;14:139-145 (DOI: 10.1159/000171475)

  Key Words

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• Sudden hearing loss
• Thrombophilia
• DNA polymorphisms
• Factor V Leiden
• Prothrombin
• Cardiovascular risk factors
• Hypercholesterolemia

  Abstract

Introduction: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) has been proposed as a symptom of underlying vascular problems. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the genetic and acquired risk factors. Methods: Ninety-nine patients were tested for the presence of common polymorphisms related to thrombophilia (prothrombin and factor V Leiden) in order to assess genetic risk factors, and several parameters classically associated with vascular disorders (cardiovascular events, brain stroke and antiphospholipid syndrome) were evaluated. Additional assessments of personal and familial history risk factors for vascular disorders were performed in each patient. Results: Thrombophilia studies did not demonstrate statistically relevant differences between the patients and control group. However, lipidemia profile and directed personal and familial histories showed positive trends for SSHL. Conclusion: The lack of clear relationships between SSHL and other vascular risk factors suggests multicausality as a predominant disease profile. Although preliminary results point at a vascular involvement in SSHL, a long-term prospective study is necessary to demonstrate that SSHL represents an early vascular symptom.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Ferran Ballesteros, MD
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Hospital Clínic i Universitari, Barcelona
c/Villarroel, 170, ES–08036 Barcelona (Spain)
Tel. +34 932 279 872, Fax +34 932 275 050, E-Mail ferran.ballesteros@gmail.com

  Article Information

Received: May 9, 2008
Accepted after revision: September 8, 2008
Published online: November 13, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 41