The role of immunologic and viral factors in the etiology of idiopathic sudden deafness

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to investigate the role of viral and immunologic factors in the etiology of idiopathic sudden deafness. Prospective, study of placebo controlled.Blood samples of 40 patients (32 males, 8 females, mean age 36.4 years; range 9 to 72 years) with idiopathic sudden deafness were studied and compared with those of 40 healthy individuals (28 males, 12 females; mean age 36 years; range 6 to 81 years) between January 2010 and October 2011 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Dicle University.Serum levels of viral (Hbs Ag, Anti-Hbs, CMV-IgM, CMV-IgG,, Rubella-IgM, Rubella-lgG, Ebstein-Barr Virüs-lgM, EBV-IgG, Herpes Simplex Virü 1-lgM, HSV-IgG, HSV2-lgM, HSV2-IgG, Mumps-lgG,Mumps İgM,anti-HIV) and immunologic markers (Antinükleer antikor, Anti ds-DNA, Antikardiolipi-lgM, Antikardiolipin-lgG, ASO, CRP, RF, IgG, IgM, C3, C4) analyzed in the sudden deafness patients and controls.Results: Sudden deafness involved the right ear in 26 patients and the left ear in 14 patients. The mean hearing loss was 69.8 dB (range 42 to 113 dB). Cross-tables by converting the discrete variables were analyzed Yates-corrected with chi-square test.No significant differences were found between the patients and controlsregarding the viral factors including hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus,cytomegalovirus, rubella, mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, and herpes simplex virus.The mean serum levels of immunologic markers including complement 4 (p=0.009) were significantly low in the patient group; however, they all were within the reference ranges.The data and analysis in patients with lower C4 levels in accordance with the Sudden Deafness can take a role in the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory and immune mechanisms suggested. However, patients with sudden hearing loss among healthy individuals in our viral and immunological factors, significant difference was found in the serum levels.KEYWORDS: Sudden deafness, Sensorineural hearing loss, Etiology, Viral infection, İmmunologic factors