title: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a vascular cause? Analysis of prothrombotic risk factors in head and neck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thrombophilic risk factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss, central retinal vein occlusion, and stroke associated with small vessel disease, with the purpose of investigating and reinforcing the vascular hypothesis in the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study. Genetic and acquired risk factors of these three groups were compared with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine, 60, and 101 patients affected respectively by sudden sensorineural hearing loss, central retinal vein occlusion, or stroke associated with small vessel disease, enrolled during a three-year period were compared with 210 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia (homocysteine ≥ 15 μmol/L) was higher in each disease group than in controls. A statically significant, albeit weak, correlation between the MTHFR C677T mutation and hyperhomocysteinemia was found in all three diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperhomocysteinemia proved to be a risk factor for sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Based on these results, we propose to analyse homocysteine in sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients and, if its values are high, to evaluate the presence of MTHFR C677T mutation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. massimo.fusconi@libero.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fusconi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chistolini
authors.forename: Armando
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Virgilio
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massaro
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turchetta
authors.forename: Anna Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Benincasa
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tombolini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Vincentiis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D059345:Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009154:Mutation; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)