title: Is Sudden Hearing Loss Associated with Atherosclerosis?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sudden sensorineural hearing-loss (SSNHL) patients constitute approximately 2-3% of referrals to ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinics. Several predisposing factors have been proposed for this condition; one of which is vascular disorders and perfusion compromise. In this research the atherosclerotic changes and their known risk factors are studied in SSNHL patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty SSNHL patients and 30 controls were evaluated with regard to cardiovascular risks including history, heart examination, blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, electrocardiogram, blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP); also, carotid artery color Doppler study was undertaken to measure intima media thickness(IMT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  IMT and HSCRP showed an increased risk in the case group compared with the controls (P= 0.005 & P=0.001). However, waist circumference, history of smoking, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and electrocardiogram revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Interestingly, blood pressure and body mass index were higher in the controls in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajati
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Azarpajooh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mouhebati
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasrollahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khadivi
authors.affiliation: Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nourizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Firoozeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.affiliation: Sinus and Surgical Endoscopic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bakhshaee
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Doppler C-reactive protein; Sudden sensorineural hearing loss; Ultrasonography; risk factors