Association of the prognosis and severity of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with cervical ultrasonographic findings.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the prognosis and severity of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) with cervical ultrasonographic findings suggestive of cardiovascular risk.

METHODS

Seventy-four inpatients with ISSNHL were included in our study. Cervical ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the common carotid artery (CCA), internal carotid artery (ICA), and vertebral artery (VA). The peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, intima-media thickness, pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) were evaluated. We investigated the relationship of these variables with the severity and prognosis of ISSNHL.

RESULTS

ICA-PI, ICA-RI, and CCA-RI were significantly higher in patients with poor hearing prognosis than in those with good prognosis. The variables of VA were not related to the prognosis of ISSNHL. There were no statistically significant differences between ISSNHL severity and cervical ultrasonographic findings.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that PI and RI might be prognostic factors for ISSNHL.