title: Acute-phase inflammatory response in idiopathic sudden deafness: pathogenic implications.
abstract: The acute-phase inflammatory response in the peripheral bloodstream can be an expression of transient cerebral ischaemia in idiopathic sudden deafness. For this, a neurological and otorhinolaryngological examination of each patient, performing tests on audiometry, and tympanometry, haemogram, and cranial magnetic resonance were performed. The acute-phase inflammatory response manifests as an increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio that is detected 48-72 hours after the appearance of sudden deafness. This study shows that there is an acute-phase response in the peripheral bloodstream with an increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as an expression of an inflammatory process that can be caused by transient cerebral ischaemia in sudden deafness. In addition, the increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio can rule out a viral origin of sudden deafness, since a viral infection lowers the neutrophil count and increases the lymphocyte count, thus reducing the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. These findings aid in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms involved in sudden deafness and offer better treatment to the patient.
authors.affiliation: UGC Otorhinolaryngology, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, C/Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013 Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: López-González
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abrante
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Lorente
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esteban