title: Combined analysis of audiologic performance and the plasma biomarker stromal cell-derived factor 1a in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study presents a potentially novel method of screening for pathogenetic factors in diabetic audiopathy by comparing the absolute plasma concentration of a microangiopathy biomarker, stromal cell-derived factor 1a (SDF-1a), with frequency-specific audiometric results.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Impaired hearing function in diabetic patients has, to date, remained a controversial and poorly understood theme with sparse clinical data. This is in contrast to more established components of the disease such as diabetic retinopathy, where diabetic microangiopathy is thought to be of pathogenetic relevance, and specific molecules such as SDF-1a have been assigned a relevant role.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out patient clinic, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna.
  
  
  METHODS
  18 Type 2 diabetic patients and 18 nondiabetic controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pure-tone audiometry and Freyburger number tests were used to evaluate hearing function. Blood plasma values of SDF-1a were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical comparison of functional audiometric data and the absolute SDF-1a values was performed for all frequencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher plasma SDF-1a concentration (p < 0.005) in Type 2 diabetic patients, who also presented with higher pure-tone audiometry thresholds compared with nondiabetic subjects, was noted. Furthermore, an association between SDF-1a and audiometric performance, body mass index, and duration of diabetes was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We hypothesize that diabetic microangiopathy and its biomarker SDF-1a should be considered as potential pathogenetic factors for altered diabetic hearing, warranting further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. benjamin.loader@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loader
authors.forename: Dejan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stokic
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riedl
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hickmann
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katzinger
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Willinger
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thurner
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12