Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), which is frequently observed in otolaryngology clinics, is characterized by sudden onset hearing loss that can develop within hours or days. Its etiology is still not fully understood.
Aims/objectives: This research aims to identify prognostic biomarkers that can be utilized to assess the progress of SSNHL as well as circumstances that may predispose individuals to the disease.
Materials and methods: Between 1 January 2019 and 1 October 2020, patients diagnosed with SSNHL in our clinic and a control group consisting of healthy people were examined retrospectively. The files of the groups were examined and the levels of hemoglobin, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), ferritin, iron, iron binding capacity (UIBC), vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate were statistically compared with the control group. In addition, the effect of the parameters studied in the patient group on the degree of recovery was examined.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of mean age and gender distribution (p > .05). NLR level of the patient group was higher than the control group (p < .05). Vitamin D level of the patient group was lower than the control group (p < .05). NLR and vitamin D levels had no effect on the degree of recovery (p > .05). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of other parameters (p > .05).
Conclusions and significance: We think that our study can be a guide for adding vitamin D as a routine laboratory test in patients with SSNHL. In addition, we think that NLR value can be used as a marker in patients with SSNHL. It is recommended to investigate the role of vitamin D supplementation in better and faster response in these patients.
Keywords: Complete blood count indices; neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio; sudden sensorineural hearing loss; vitamin D.
The reasons that predispose to SSNHL are not fully elucidated. However, there is no laboratory marker that can be used in this disease.In our study, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found to be higher than in healthy people. These results suggest that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was found to be higher in the patient group. We think that the NLR value obtained from the complete blood count, which is a simple and inexpensive laboratory test, can be used as a marker in patients with SSNHL.