title: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: classic cardiovascular and new genetic risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main causative process in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (iSSNHL) has yet to be explained or demonstrated. The clinical picture supports vascular involvement, but obvious limitations of inner ear study make this difficult to corroborate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of thrombophilic genetic variants that may affect platelet function and to assess the cardiovascular risk profile in a cohort of patients with iSSNHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  118 Caucasian patients with iSSNHL were recruited from the same geographical area and enrolled prospectively in this study. Clinical data were obtained for each patient. Polymorphisms of the platelet glycoprotein subunit IIIa gene, ITGB3 (PLA1/A2, rs5918), and of the platelet glycoprotein subunit Ia gene, ITGA2 (C807T, rs1126643) were analyzed. A control group of 161 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals from the same geographical area was recruited for genetic comparisons. In order to determine the cardiovascular risk profile of each patient and of our cohort, a cross-sectional assessment was performed by means of a calibrated Framingham coronary heart disease risk scale. Risk factor proportions were compared to those recommended in European guidelines for coronary prevention, which are also based on the Framingham function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly high prevalence of the 807T allele of platelet glycoprotein subunit Ia was found in patients compared to controls. There was a significant correlation between the 807TT homozygous genotype and a low probability of recovery. The PLA1/A2 polymorphism of platelet glycoprotein subunit IIIa was not associated with recovery, with a similar genotype prevalence being found in patients and controls. In terms of cardiovascular risk profile, patients did not present an excess of baseline coronary risk factors compared to the general population in the same geographical area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with iSSNHL had a higher prevalence of the 807T thrombophilic polymorphism of platelet glycoprotein Ia/IIa. Patients homozygous for this polymorphism are less likely to recover from iSSNHL. Classical cardiovascular risk factors were not related to iSSNHL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain. ferran.ballesteros@gmail.com
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballesteros
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tassies
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reverter
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alobid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernal-Sprekelsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D039421:Integrin alpha2 / Q000235:genetics*; D039661:Integrin beta3 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C061248:ITGB3 protein, human; D039421:Integrin alpha2; D039661:Integrin beta3