Idiopathic sudden hearing loss: another kind of circulatory risk should not be neglected

Excerpt

An interesting paper very recently published in the European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology [1] about the possibility that an increased level of mean platelet volume may be linked with sudden hearing loss (SHL) permits to focus on the opportunity for ENT specialists and cardiovascular specialist to join in studying inner ear diseases: it is an updated point of view that we totally share [2], as the strict link between circulation and inner ear homeostasis, due to the terminal vasculature and the highly energy-requiring metabolism of this sensory organ, cannot be neglected in dealing with inner ear disorders. Among them, SHL is one of the most challenging affections especially because its causal factors often remain substantially unknown. The proposed etiopathogenesis is intriguing and could give a satisfying interpretation to a number of “idiopathic” cases, thus contributing to explain how this affection not exceptionally concerns subjects free from more classical vascular risk factors. It should be kept in mind, not only in attempting to better understand some apparently unexplainable labyrinthine sufferances but even in terms of prevention. Moreover, the simple and common character of the reported investigation makes it automatic to apply in the routine practice to obtain an important additional information. …