Correlation between Chlamydia pneumoniae and sudden sensorineural hearing loss / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the correlation between Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) infection and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Methods One hundred and twenty patients with SSHL were enrolled as SSHL group, and another 120 healthy subjects were served as control group. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and the expression of Cpn-specific antigen (Cpn-Ag) and Cpn-DNA in PBMCs was detected by direct immunofluorescence test and PCR, respectively. Specific antibodies (IgA, IgG and IgM) to Cpn were determined by microimmunofluorescence test.Results There was no significant difference in the positive findings between direct immunofluorescence test and PCR (P>0.05). There were significant differences in the positive rates of Cpn-Ag and Cpn-IgM for acute infection between these two groups (P＜0.01), and there were significant differences in the positive rates of Cpn-IgA and Cpn-IgG for chronic infection between these two groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion There is a significantly higher prevalence of Cpn in patients with SSHL. Cpn infection may be a possible cause for SSHL.