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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

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01-11-2019 | Cerebral Small Vessel Disease | Otology

Is there a relation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and white matter lesions?

Authors: Massimo Fusconi, Giuseppe Attanasio, Flavia Capitani, Edoardo Di Porto, Davide Diacinti, Isotta Musy, Massimo Ralli, Giovanni Ralli, Antonio Greco, Marco de Vincentiis, Claudio Colonnese

Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Issue 11/2019

Abstract

Purpose

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) has similarities to conditions with vascular etiologies such as myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke. Thus, it could be considered as an early sign of a vascular disease and not only a specific local condition. Chronic hypoperfusion in the brain districts leads to a chronic ischemic damage, called cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), detectable with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

The authors used CSVD to establish the presence of vascular risk factors in individuals with SSNHL and used the Fazekas score scale to classify them.

Results

Our study showed that individuals with SSNHL aged between 48 and 60 years have 26% more probability to have a Fazekas score higher than 1 compared to the general population. Individuals younger than 28 years showed a statistically significant negative correlation to have a Fazekas score higher than 0. The higher is the Fazekas score, the less is the probability of hearing recovery. The medium hearing-recovery probability is 46%. This decreases by 16% for every increase of score in the Fazekas scale. In the present study, the recovery probability decreased from 80% in individuals younger than 48 years with a score of 0 to 14% in individuals with a Fazekas scores of 3 and 4.

Conclusions

The authors assessed a higher prevalence of CSVD compared to the general population in patients aged between 48 and 60 years with SSNHL. Moreover, they assessed that the presence of CSVD is related to a decreased probability of recovery, as it has already been demonstrated for stroke.

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Title: Is there a relation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and white matter lesions?
Authors: Massimo Fusconi
Giuseppe Attanasio
Flavia Capitani
Edoardo Di Porto
Davide Diacinti
Isotta Musy
Massimo Ralli
Giovanni Ralli
Antonio Greco
Marco de Vincentiis
Claudio Colonnese
Publication date: 01-11-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Cranial MRI
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology / Issue 11/2019
Print ISSN: 0937-4477
Electronic ISSN: 1434-4726
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05593-4

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Springer Medicine

Is there a relation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and white matter lesions?

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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