%0 Journal Article
%T Acute-Phase Inflammatory Response in Idiopathic Sudden Deafness: Pathogenic Implications
%A Miguel A. L¨®pez-Gonz¨¢lez
%A Antonio Abrante
%A Carmen L¨®pez-Lorente
%A Antonio G¨®mez
%A Emilio Dom¨ªnguez
%A Francisco Esteban
%J International Journal of Otolaryngology
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/216592
%X The acute-phase inflammatory response in the peripheral bloodstream can be an expression of transient cerebral ischaemia in idiopathic sudden deafness. For this, a neurological and otorhinolaryngological examination of each patient, performing tests on audiometry, and tympanometry, haemogram, and cranial magnetic resonance were performed. The acute-phase inflammatory response manifests as an increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio that is detected 48–72 hours after the appearance of sudden deafness. This study shows that there is an acute-phase response in the peripheral bloodstream with an increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio as an expression of an inflammatory process that can be caused by transient cerebral ischaemia in sudden deafness. In addition, the increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio can rule out a viral origin of sudden deafness, since a viral infection lowers the neutrophil count and increases the lymphocyte count, thus reducing the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. These findings aid in understanding the pathogenic mechanisms involved in sudden deafness and offer better treatment to the patient.
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijol/2012/216592/