title: Progressive sensorineural hearing loss, subjective tinnitus and vertigo caused by elevated blood lipids.
abstract: The otologist frequently sees patients with progressive sensorineural hearing loss, subjective aural tinnitus and vertigo with no apparent cause. Elevated blood lipids may be a cause of inner ear malfunction on a biochemical basis. To establish the true incidence of this condition, all new patients (4,251) seen during an eight-year period were evaluated; of these, 2,332 patients had complaints of inner ear disease. All had a complete neurotologic examination, appropriate audiometric and vestibular studies and imaging, and blood tests including lipid phenotype studies. Hyperlipoproteinemia was found in 120 patients (5.1%). Most patients were found to be overweight and had additional coexisting conditions such as diabetes mellitus. Treatment with vasodilators and a 500-calorie, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet yielded improvement of symptoms in 83% of patients within five months of initiation of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Pulec Ear Clinic and Ear International, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pulec
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pulec
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006951:Hyperlipoproteinemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002784:Cholesterol