title: Pathologic erythrocyte deformability in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if viscoelastic properties of blood influence suffering sudden sensorineural hearing loss and the capacity to respond after a specific therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal prospective study included 85 ears bearing sudden deafness. In them, the mean hearing loss compared to the healthy ear and the recovery ratio were measured at the onset and 6 months after a treatment with corticoids and piracetam. In addition, tinnitus or vestibular symptoms, whole blood filterability (WBF) and erythrocyte deformability -by means of the erythrocyte rigidity index (ERI)- were determined and noted at the beginning and the end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean hearing loss was 30.3±19.7% at the onset, and 25.8±39% at the end. Forty-one ears showed a recovery of more than 75%. In these (48% of the entire study group), an increase in WBF and a decrease in ERI were observed (P<.001). Ears without tinnitus or vestibular crisis recovered more hearing at 6 months and showed a significant improvement in WBF and ERI, not detected among patients with these clinical findings. There were good correlations between mean hearing loss at onset and WBF, and between recovery and ERI at 6 months, but without statistical significance. Patients with arterial hypertension, cardiopathy and hypercholesterolemia were the most frequently detected, while hypertension and hyperuricaemia showed a better hearing recovery ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blood viscosity parameters WBF and ERI offer useful information about the risk of suffering sudden deafness and the capacity to recover hearing with reactive therapies.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de ORL, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. jgarciacall@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: García-Callejo
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marco-Algarra
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pla-Gil
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monzó-Gandía
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juantegui-Azpilicueta
authors.forename: Paz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Beneyto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010889:Piracetam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010889:Piracetam