ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine: (1) whether mean platelet volume was elevated in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, compared with healthy controls; and (2) whether mean platelet volume level was related to hearing loss severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 31 patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and 31 age- and sex-matched, healthy controls. Peripheral venous blood samples were taken from subjects and mean platelet volume and levels of glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride were measured. RESULTS: Mean platelet volume was significantly greater in the sudden sensorineural hearing loss group compared with the control group. However, there was no significant correlation between mean platelet volume level and hearing loss severity. CONCLUSION: Mean platelet volume, a determinant of platelet activation, is elevated in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. To our knowledge, this is the first report investigating mean platelet volume levels in such patients. Our findings indirectly support the hypothesis of vascular impairment as a pathogenetic factor in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
Subject(s)
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/etiology , Hearing Loss, Sudden/etiology , Mean Platelet Volume , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Female , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/blood , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/pathology , Hearing Loss, Sudden/blood , Hearing Loss, Sudden/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Platelet Activation , Severity of Illness Index , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether mean platelet volume (MPV) levels rise in patients with nasal polyposis (NP) and whether higher MPV levels are correlated to the extension of polyps in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 50 patients with NP and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects as controls. The Lund-Mackay staging system was used to assess paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scans in patients with NP, and paranasal sinus CT scores were recorded. MPV was measured in a blood sample collected in EDTA tubes and was also used for whole blood counts in all patients. The Mann-Whitney U-test and Student's t-test were used to compare the results of the two groups. RESULTS: NP patients had higher MPV levels than the control group (9.60 +/- 1.06 fl and 8.77 +/- 0.88 fl, p < 0.001 respectively). However, there was no significant correlation between MPV and paranasal sinus CT scores. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate MPV levels in patients with NP. Our results suggest that MPV, a determinant of platelet activation, is elevated in patients with NP. Increased platelet activation may be related to an increase in cardiovascular risk in patients with NP.
Subject(s)
Blood Platelets/physiology , Blood Volume , Nasal Polyps/physiopathology , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Platelet Activation/physiology , Platelet CountABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Mucormycosis is an opportunist, often lethal fungal infection which occurs in immunocompromised patients. We present our experience in 14 patients with this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 14 patients treated for rhinocerebral mucormycosis. RESULTS: Nine patients had diabetes mellitus and six had a haematological malignancy. Nine patients had cutaneous and/or palatal necrosis. Eleven patients were treated with amphotericin B and five with liposomal amphotericin B. Endoscopic sinus surgery was performed in five patients with disease limited to the sinonasal cavity; nine patients underwent more extensive surgery. Five patients with disease limited to the sinonasal cavity survived, while nine patients with widely disseminated disease died. Five of the nine diabetic patients died, as did five of the six patients with haematological malignancy. CONCLUSION: Patients with rhinocerebral mucormycosis spreading outside the sinonasal cavity have a poor prognosis.
