Relationship between Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Vascular Risk Factors

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL) and vascular risk factors(including serum lipids and uric acid).MethodThis is a retrospective analysis of 100 cases of SSNHL seen at the Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, between Jan. 2007 and Apr. 2008。 Patient history, blood test results and imaging scans were analyzed. Levels of triglyceride (TG) cholesterols(CHO), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-CH), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-CH), apolipoprotein AI(ApoAI), apolipoprotein B(ApoB) and uric acid(UA) from these patients were compared with a control group of 56 patients treated for vocal cord polyps or nasal septum deviation during the same period. Patients with hypertension, diabetes, heart, brain, liver or kidney disorders are excluded from the present investigation.ResultsHDL-CH level was higher and UA level lower in the study group than the control group(P < 0.05). HDL-CH and UA showed no significant differences among different age-groups(P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the levels of TG, CHO, LDL-CH, ApoAI and ApoB(P > 0.05).ConclusionThese data indicate that metabolic disturbances of serum lipids and/or uric acid may be potential risk factors for SSNHL