Coenzyme Q 10 and cardiovascular risk factors in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) with coenzyme Q (CoQ) and cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
Hospital center.


METHODS
Thirty Italian patients with ISSNHL and 60 healthy Italian subjects.


METHODS
Diagnostic.


METHODS
Evaluation of serum CoQ levels and cardiovascular risk factors (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein [LDL], homocysteine [HCY]). The results were compared with variance analysis and Student's t test. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the association between ISSNHL and CoQ, total cholesterol, LDL, and HCY levels.


RESULTS
In our series, we found a significant association between ISSNHL and high total cholesterol (p < 0.05), high LDL (p = 0.021), and low CoQ (p < 0.05) levels. We did not find a significant association between ISSNHL and HCY levels. In the univariate analysis, low levels of CoQ, high levels of total cholesterol, and LDL were found to be significantly associated with ISSNHL. In the multivariate analysis, only high levels of total cholesterol and low levels of CoQ remained significantly associated with a high risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.


CONCLUSIONS
The studies regarding the role of cardiovascular risk factors in ISSNHL are not conclusive. This is the first report regarding the association of ISSNHL and low serum levels of the antioxidant CoQ. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of antioxidants, including CoQ, in ISSNHL.
Cadoni
Gabriella
G
Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. gabriella.cadoni@rm.unicatt.it
Scipione
Simona
S
Agostino
Stefania
S
Addolorato
Giovanni
G
Cianfrone
Francesca
F
Leggio
Lorenzo
L
Paludetti
Gaetano
G
Lippa
Silvio
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001299:Audiometry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003067:Coenzymes / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency
D000975:Antioxidants; D003067:Coenzymes; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D006710:Homocysteine; D014451:Ubiquinone; D002784:Cholesterol; C024989:coenzyme Q10