title: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: Is there a connection with inner ear electrolytic disorders? A literature review.
abstract: Electrolytic disorders of the inner ear represent a model that could be implicated in partially explaining the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Different types of electrolytes and different inner-ear loci are involved in cochlear homeostasis physiologically, to ensure the maintenance of an ion-balanced cochlear environment allowing a normal hair cell function. It has been hypothesized that a sudden loss of endocochlear potential, due to a rapid disruption of the inner ear fluid osmolality, could be responsible for a deterioration of the hearing function caused by damaged hair cells. The aim of this paper was to review the current literature and identify sources which might validate/fortify the hypothesis that inner ear electrolytic disorders have a role in the etiopathogenesis of SSNHL. The data in the literature underline the importance of ionic homeostasis in the inner ear, but they do not support a direct link between SSNHL and electrolyte disorders/imbalances. There is marginal evidence from otoacoustic emissions research that an indirect link might be present.
authors.affiliation: ENT & Audiology Department University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciorba
authors.affiliation: ENT & Audiology Department University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Corazzi
authors.affiliation: ENT & Audiology Department University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.affiliation: ENT & Audiology Department University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aimoni
authors.affiliation: World Hearing Center, Warsaw, Poland.|Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skarzynski
authors.affiliation: World Hearing Center, Warsaw, Poland.|Department of Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.|Institute of Sensory Organs, Kajetany, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr Henryk
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Skarzynski
authors.affiliation: ENT & Audiology Department University Hospital of Ferrara, Italy sdh1@unife.it.
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatzopoulos
mesh_terms: D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000378:metabolism*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes
keywords: cochlea; electrolytes; inner ear; sudden sensorineural hearing loss