Hearing results with combination steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

BACKGROUND: Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss was described by Mc. Cabe in 1979 and, since then, many authors have tried to define, explain and correctly treat this disease. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders defines it as sudden sensorineural hearing loss of at least 30 dB in three contiguous audiometric frequencies in a period of 72 hours. Among the therapeutic strategies, corticosteroids have been shown to have the greatest benefit due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-cellular stress effects. OBJECTIVE: To determine the hearing results with combined steroid therapy in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), according to the Siegel recovery criteria scale. METHOD: Study carried out in the otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery service of the Centro Médico Naval, Ciudad de México, where 150 patients diagnosed with SSHL and who received combined therapy with intratympanic dexamethasone and systemic prednisone were included. RESULTS: Therapeutic effectiveness was demonstrated by correlating therapeutic success in 82% of cases and therapeutic failure in 18% of cases, by correlating it with the Siegel recovery criteria scale. When evaluating the general average of the pure tone average levels at the beginning and 6 weeks after treatment, a statistically significant difference was obtained (p = 0.001). The average of the speech audiometry at the beginning and 6 weeks later had a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Initial combined steroid treatment for SSHL has been shown to have beneficial results according to Siegel recovery criteria scale.

ANTECENDENTES: La Hipoacusia Neurosensorial Súbita Idiopática fue descrita por Mc. Cabe en 1979 y, desde entonces, muchos autores han tratado de definir, explicar y tratar correctamente esta enfermedad. El Nacional Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders la define como pérdida auditiva neurosensorial brusca de al menos 30 dB en tres frecuencias audiométricas contiguas en un periodo de 72 horas. Entre las estrategias terapéuticas, los corticosteroides han demostrado tener mayor beneficio por sus efectos antiinflamatorios y antiestrés celular. OBJETIVO: Determinar los resultados auditivos con la terapia de esteroides combinados en pacientes con hipoacusia neurosensorial súbita idiopática (HNSI), de acuerdo a la escala de criterios de recuperación de Siegel. MÉTODO: Estudio realizado en el servicio de otorrinolaringología y cirugía de cabeza y cuello del Centro Médico Naval, en Ciudad de México, en el que se incluyeron 150 pacientes con diagnóstico de HNSI y que recibieron terapia combinada con dexametasona intratimpánica y prednisona sistémica. RESULTADOS: Se demostró una efectividad terapéutica al correlacionar el éxito terapéutico en el 82% de los casos y un fracaso terapéutico en el 18% de los casos según la escala de criterios de recuperación de Siegel. Al evaluar el promedio general de los niveles de promedio de tonos puros al inicio y 6 semanas posterior al tratamiento se obtuvo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = 0.001). El promedio de las logoaudiometrías al inicio y 6 semanas posterior al tratamiento tuvo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONES: El tratamiento combinado con esteroides de manera inicial para la HNSI ha demostrado tener resultados benéficos de acuerdo con la escala de criterios de recuperación de Siegel.

Vestibular function assessment in sudden hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES: To perform vestibular assessment using cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential, video head impulse test and caloric testing in patients with sudden hearing loss. Moreover, to evaluate the correlation of dizziness with vestibular tests and the correlation of vestibular tests with hearing prognosis. METHODS: This is an observational, longitudinal and prospective study, including participants diagnosed with sudden hearing loss. The participants underwent cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential, video head impulse test and caloric testing. The audiometric assessment was performed at the beginning and at the end of the follow-up. A value of p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included in the study sample, with a mean age of 45.4±11.1 years. Five participants (29.41%) had dizziness and 15 (88.23%) had tinnitus. All participants underwent vestibular evaluation through cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential and video head impulse test, and 13 of them were evaluated through caloric testing. The cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential was considered altered in five (29.41%) participants, while 11 (64.71%) showed alterations at the ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential. The video head impulse test and the caloric testing were considered altered in seven (41.18%) and five (38.46%) participants, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between the clinical data and the results of vestibular tests or hearing recovery, nor between the results of vestibular tests and hearing recovery. CONCLUSION: The assessment through vestibular evoked myogenic potential, video head impulse test and caloric testing showed vestibular involvement in some participants. However, it cannot be stated that the results of the vestibular tests are related to the hearing prognosis of sudden hearing loss.

A 67-Year-Old Woman with Sudden Hearing Loss Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND Few reports have described the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and sudden hearing loss. The precise pathophysiological mechanism causing this symptom is unknown. This report describes a case of sudden hearing loss in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old woman with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, was examined. She experienced sudden hearing loss in her right ear and disabling tinnitus. She underwent combined corticosteroid therapy (oral and intratympanic), resulting in an isolated improvement of 250 kHz in the right ear (from 60 dB, the threshold became 15 dB) and of 4, 6, and 8 kHz in the left ear (from 35 dB, 20 dB, and 35 dB, the thresholds became 15 dB, 5 dB and 20 dB, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Although rare, hearing loss appears to be a possible sequela to SARS-CoV-2 infection and deserves attention because it is a medical emergency requiring immediate clinical treatment. Additional studies are needed to assess the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in and the long-term characteristics of this type of hearing loss.

Sordera súbita: a la luz de la evidencia / Sudden deafness: in light of the evidence

La sordera súbita es una condición de hipoacusia neurosensorial aguda usualmente unilateral, de instalación en un período menor o igual a 72 horas, que en la mayoría de los casos es idiopática; sin embargo, causas infecciosas, autoinmunes y vasculares, se han propuesto como los principales mecanismos involucrados. La sordera súbita es considerada una urgencia otorrinolaringológica, sin embargo el tratamiento de ésta continúa siendo un tema controvertido.

Sudden deafness is usually a condition of acute unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, installation less than or equal to 72 hours period, which in most cases are idiopathic; however, infectious, autoimmune and vascular causes, have been proposed as key mechanisms involved. Sudden deafness is considered an ENT urgency, however this treatment remains controversial.

Contribution of audiovestibular tests to the topographic diagnosis of sudden deafness

Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is an ENT emergency defined as sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) > 30 dB HL affecting at least 3 consecutive tonal frequencies, showing a sudden onset, and occurring within 3 days. In cases of SHL, a detailed investigation should be performed in order to determine the etiology and provide the best treatment. Otoacoustic emission (OAE) analysis, electronystagmography (ENG), bithermal caloric test (BCT), and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) assessments may be used in addition to a number of auxiliary methods to determine the topographic diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of OAE analysis, BCT, VEMP assessment, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to the topographic diagnosis of SHL. METHOD: Cross-sectional and retrospective studies of 21 patients with SHL, as defined above, were performed. The patients underwent the following exams: audiometry, tympanometry, OAE analysis, BCT, VEMP assessment, and MRI. Sex, affected side, degree of hearing loss, and cochleovestibular test results were described and correlated with MRI findings. Student's t-test was used for analysis of qualitative variables (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age of the 21 patients assessed was 52.5 ± 15.3 years; 13 (61.9%) were women and 8 (38.1%) were men. Most (55%) had severe hearing loss. MRI changes were found in 20% of the cases. When the audiovestibular test results were added to the MRI findings, the topographic SHL diagnosis rate increased from 20% to 45%. CONCLUSION: Only combined analysis via several examinations provides a precise topographic diagnosis. Isolated data do not provide sufficient evidence to establish the extent of involvement and, hence, a possible etiology...

Perfil de auto-anticorpos na surdez súbita, surdez rapidamente progressiva e doença de Ménière / Autoantibody profile in instantaneous hearing loss, rapidly progressive hearing loss and Ménière disease

A surdez neurossensorial (SNS) imunomediada é uma das formas de SNS com possibilidade de reversão. Surdez súbita, surdez rapidamente progressiva e doença de Ménière são relacionadas à etiologia autoimune. O Western blot (WB) com antígeno de tecidos bovinos é usado para detecção do anticorpo anti-68kD (hsp70) em SNS imunomediada. Marcadores específicos são necessários para diagnóstico e prognóstico desta entidade. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar reatividade dos soros de pacientes com SNS contra antígeno de células humanas (HeLa) pelo WB. Observou-se reatividade contra células HeLa, confirmando a presença de autorreatividade e autoanticorpos. O papel destes anticorpos ainda é desconhecido. /Immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is one of few forms of reversible SNHL. The rapidly progressive hearing loss, sudden SNHL and Ménière’s disease are often related to autoimmune etiology. Western blot with bovine tissues as target has been used, detecting anti-68kD antibody (hsp70) in immune-mediated SNHL. Other specific markers are necessary to diagnosis and prognosis. The aim of this study was determinate reactivity from SNHL patients’ sera against human cell line antigen (HeLa) by Western blot. Reactivity to HeLa cells was observed reinforcing autoreactivity and autoantibody presence. The role of these autoantibodies is unknown and futher studies are necessary...

Sudden deafness and Lyme disease.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Otolaryngological manifestations are common in Lyme disease, affecting up to 75% of patients. One of these symptoms is sudden deafness. Hearing loss has been frequently described in Lyme disease; on the other hand, titers seropositive for, the causal agent of this disease, have been found in almost 20% of cases of sudden deafness. No consensual information exists on the outcome of Borrelia-seropositive patients or on the importance of determining Borrelia antibody titers. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of seropositivity for Borrelia in sudden deafness, describing clinical characteristics and outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective observational study. METHODS: Forty-seven consecutive patients with sudden deafness were enrolled in the study. Demographic data, the presence of tinnitus and vertigo, and low- and high-frequency pure-tone averages were recorded. The percentage of hearing recovery was determined. Data obtained from Borrelia-seropositive patients were described and compared with those from the seronegative group. RESULTS: Titers positive for antibodies were present in 21.3% of the cases. Seropositive and seronegative groups of patients were homogeneous concerning age, sex distribution, the presence of tinnitus and vertigo, and high- and low-frequency hearing thresholds. Hearing outcome was not significantly different between the groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: No distinctive clinical characteristic was found between seropositive and seronegative subjects. The hearing outcome of treated Borrelia-seropositive patients was similar to that of the seronegative group.

Audiological evaluation of twenty patients receiving pentoxifylline and prednisone after sudden deafness: prospective study.

Idiopathic sudden deafness is defined as sudden sensorineural hearing loss of undetermined etiology. As a consequence, various treatments have been developed for this disorder. Our study evaluated the effectiveness of pentoxifylline and prednisone in such treatment. We analyzed this treatment's results in our patients through conventional audiograms, and speech audiometry was performed in the acute stage and during the treatment. We diagnosed idiopathic sudden hearing loss in 20 patients (8 female and 12 male). The left ear was involved in 9 patients and the right in 11. All patients had been examined by us within 15 days from the onset of hearing loss. We compared the hearing threshold results in the different periods in this prospective study.

Epidemiología y características clínicas de pacientes hospitalizados con sordera súbita en el HNERM / Epidemiology and clinics characteristics of patients hospitalized with sudden deafness in the HNERM

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo descriptivo de 29 pacientes (34 oídos afectados), hospitalizados con sordera súbita. Se analizan datos generales, antecedentes, clínica y variación auditiva. La media estancia hospitalaria fue de 8,5 días, no hubo predominio de sexo, y fue mayor en la quinta y sexta década de la vida. Los antecedentes más resaltantes fueron la hipertensión arterial, patología previa de oído y diabetes mellitus. La demora en el inicio del tratamiento tuvo una media de 11 días. Para el 93 por ciento fue el primer episodio, el 83 por ciento fue unilateral. El síntoma más frecuente fue el acúfeno seguido de vértigo. Predominó la curva plana en la audiometría, así como la hipoacusia profunda en el 50 por ciento de pacientes. La media de la pérdida fue de 55,59dB. El 66 por ciento de pacientes y 68 por ciento de oídos tuvo recuperación auditiva, con una media de 15,5dB. De ellos el 34,5 por ciento de pacientes recuperó más de 20 dB. En cuanto al pronóstico la mayor profundidad de hipoacusia inicial, mayor demora de atención y asociación con vértigo mostraron tendencia a menor recuperación auditiva.

Surdez súbita como sintoma. Inicial em tumor de ângulo pontocerebelar / Sudden Deafness like Initial Symptom in Cerebelopontine Angle Tumour

O autor faz uma revisão da literatura sobre surdez súbita e suas principais etiologias. Apresenta um caso clínico no qual este sintoma foi a queixa inicial de um paciente portador de tumor no ângulo pontocerebelar.

The author make a literature revision about sudden deafness and per prime etiology. Show a clinical case when this symptom was the initial complaint of a patient with cerebelopontine angle tumour.

Surdez súbita bilateral (pós mordida de cäo): relato de um caso / Bilateral sudden hearing (following a dog's bite): a case report

Este relato de caso tem como objetivo apresentar um caso clínico de um paciente, que apresentou surdez súbita bilateral quatro dias após mordida de cäo doméstico. O paciente, com queixa auditiva, foi submetido à avaliaçäo otorrinolaringológica e neurológica, e amplamente monitoradopor exames audiométricos e imitanciometria, emissäo otoacústica, audiometria de tronco encefálico (ABR), ressonância magnética e exames laboratoriais. Foi detectado na audiometria uma perda auditiva sensorioneural profunda bilateral, com emissöes otoacósticas ausentes e um ABR compatível, com ausência de respostas bilateral, com os demais exames dentro de um padräo de normalidade. Esses resultados mostram a importância da história clínica e de considerarmos todas as possibilidade do diagnóstico de surdez súbita bilateral, e a possibilidade da mesma ser causada por meio da mordida de cäo.

Hipoacusia súbita idiopática / Idiopathic sudden hearing loss

Los autores presentan su experiencia clínica en el manejo de la hipoacusia súbita idiopática (HS) en un trabajo prospectivo realizado entre los años 1980 y 1998. En 53 pacientes con enfermedad, estudiaron sus características clínicas más relevantes y los exámenes de laboratorio más útiles. En este análisis, se concluye que en la gran mayoría de las HSI, no se puede establecer una etiología, y que la tardanza en el tratamiento, la aparición de vértigo en forma concomitante y la hipoacusia severa son síntomas ominosos. En su estudio, los autores establecen distintos grupos según el tipo de curva audiométrica (ascendente, plana y descendente), buscando diferencias de comportamiento. En relación al tratamiento, los autores establecieron tres grupos aleatorios que fueron tratados con vasodilatadores, corticoides o vitaminas. En el trabajo, se puedo establecer que los mejores resultados se obtuvieron con la corticoterapia en todos los tipos de curva audiométrica

Hipoacusia súbita secundaria a macroglobulinemia de Waldeström / Sudden sensoryneural hearing loss secondary to Waldeström's macroglobulinemia

Se presenta un caso clínico de alteraciones cocleovestibulares súbitas, provocado por Síndrome de Hiperviscosidad, secundario a Macroglobulinemia de Waldeström, analizando datos anamnésicos, de laboratorio, repercusión en otras parénquimas, correlacionándolos con mecanismos fisiopatológicos, respuesta terapéutica y evolución posterior en controles periódicos de 10 años. En la literatura se describe hipoacusia sensorioneural y tinnitus como manifestaciones crónicas de este Síndrome, pero no encontramos descripción de un cuadro de hipoacusia sensorioneural de aparición súbita. Nuestro objetivo es describir un caso clínico y analizar la probable etiología vascular como mecanismo etiopatogénico de la hipoacusia súbita

Hallazgos audiológicos en pacientes con hipoacusia súbita manejados con esteroides y extracto de ginkgo biloba / Audiologic findings in patients with sudden hearing loss treated with steroids and extract of ginkgo biloba

Propósito: Evaluar los resultados audiológicos en pacientes con hipoacusia súbita manejados con Ginkgo biliba y esteroides. Así mismo, evaluar el efecto de este tratamiento médico sobre el acúfeno que surge como secuela del padecimiento. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, lineal y descriptivo, en el cual se revisó una muestra de 52 pacientes. Se administró tratamiento a base de esteroides y extracto de Ginkgo biloba. A todos los pacientes se les realizaron audiometrías seriadas cada 8 o 10 días hasta que se encontró estabilidad audiométrica. Resultados: En los umbrales de tonos puros, se observó mejoría de l a 30 dB HL en el 36.8 por ciento de los pacientes, de 31.60 dB HL en el 40.3 por ciento y de 61.90 dB HL en el 7.0 por ciento. La discriminación mejoró en el 61.66 por ciento. El acúfeno mostró mejoría importante en todos los casos. Conclusión: Aunque se ha reportado que en la hipoacusia súbita puede existir recuperación espontánea, la combinación de esteroides con extracto de Ginkgo biloba produjo recuperación en los umbrales de audiometría tonal y mejoría en la discriminación en la mayoría de los casos estudiados, incluso en pacientes que tenían de 1 a 2 meses de evolución y en los que no había existido mejoría espontánea. La recuperación no fue completa, pero si útil para obtener umbrales aceptables para la rehabilitación mediante una prótesis auditiva

Osteoma de conduto auditivo interno associado a surdez súbita contralateral / Internal auditory canal osteoma associate to contralateral sudden deafness

Os autores apresentam um caso de paciente portador dea anacusia devida a surdez súbita associada à presença de osteoma de conduto auditivo interno, assintomático, contralateral à perda auditiva. O diagnóstico foi feito através de tomografia computadorizada de alta resoluçäo, enquanto a ressonância magnética de ossos temporais revelou-se normal. A conduta adotada para o caso foi expectante