title: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a new, quick, and reliable indicator for predicting diagnosis and prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Idiopathic Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a common otologic emergency. Recently, the cause of ISSNHL, which is still unclear, has been focused on chronic inflammation. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a new and quick inflammatory marker, which is being measured routinely in CBC tests without any cost. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ISSNHL and inflammation by using NLR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven patients diagnosed with ISSNHL and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. An automated blood cell counter was used for NLR measurements. The hearing assessments of the patients were carried out by an audiometer, and audiometric patterns were assessed initially and after 1 month of the treatment. All the patients were treated with prednisone in the dose of 1 mg/kg per day, with a progressive dose reduction maintained for at least 2 weeks. Then, the patients were divided into 2 groups as " recovered" and "unrecovered" according to their response to the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean NLR, neutrophil, and lymphocyte values in patients with ISSNHL were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.004, respectively). In addition, NLR levels were higher in unrecovered patients compared with the recovered ones (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study investigating the relationship between NLR levels and ISSNHL and its prognosis. While evaluating ISSNHL, determining NLR should not be overlooked as a quick and reliable indicator for predicting the diagnosis and the prognosis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Otorhinolaryngology, and †Department of Internal Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulu
authors.forename: Memnune Sena
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ulu
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bucak
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahsen
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yucedag
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aycicek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011241:Prednisone