La pérdida súbita de la audición, ¿está asociada con un mayor riesgo de aterosclerosis? / 1 IS SUDDEN HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED RISK OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS?

Objective: sudden sensorineural hearing-loss (SSNHL) patients constitute approximately 2­3% of referrals to ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinics. Several predisposing factors have been proposed for this condition; one of which is vascular disorders and perfusion compromise. In this research the atherosclerotic changes and their known risk factors are studied in SSNHL patients. Study Design: This was a case-control study. Methods: Thirty SSNHL patients and 30 controls were evaluated with regard to cardiovascular risks including history, heart examination, blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, electrocardiogram, blood sugar, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HSCRP); also, carotid artery color Doppler study was undertaken to measure intima media thickness (IMT). Results: IMT and HSCRP showed an increased risk in the case group compared with the controls (P=0.005 and P=0.001). However, waist circumference, history of smoking, fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and electrocardiogram revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Interestingly, blood pressure and body mass index were higher in the controls in this study. Conclusion: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, suggesting cardiovascular check-up in selected cases if associated with other risk factors.

The distance of the sigmoid sinus and the middle fossa dura from the external auditory canal in chronic otitis media.

PURPOSE: Mastoid pneumatization is reduced in most patients suffering from chronic otitis media (COM). In most studies, the relationship between the degree of pneumatization and the distance of the sigmoid sinus from the external auditory canal has been examined, yielding different results. This study addresses the relationship between COM and the distance of the sigmoid sinus and also middle fossa dura from the external auditory canal. METHODS: This was a case-control study on 15 adult COM patients, 12 traumatic facial palsy patients, and 15 cadaver temporal bones. After mastoidectomy, the distance between the spine of Henle and both the middle fossa dura and sigmoid sinus were measured, and the findings in each group was analyzed using Tukey's and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: The average distance of the external auditory canal and the sigmoid sinus was 15.27 ± 3.3 mm in the COM group, 16.92 ± 3.23 mm in the traumatic facial palsy group, and 14.53 ± 2.92 mm in the cadaver temporal bones. There was no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.115). The average distance of the spine of Henle from the middle fossa dura was 6.73 ± 1.62 mm in the COM group, 11.4 ± 2.05 mm in the traumatic facial palsy group, and 8.93 ± 1.94 in the cadaver temporal bones. There was a significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The distance of both the sigmoid sinus and the middle fossa dura from the external auditory canal (which indicates mastoid pneumatization) is reduced in COM patients.