Atherosclerosis Supplements
Volume 10, Issue 5 , Pages 95-101, 29 December 2009

Fibrinogen/LDL apheresis as successful second-line treatment of sudden hearing loss: a retrospective study on 217 patients

  • Franz Heigl

      Affiliations

    • Dres. Heigl, Hettich & Partner, Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum Kempten-Allgäu, Kempten, Germany
    • Corresponding Author InformationMedizinisches Versorgungszentrum Kempten-Allgäu, Robert-Weixler-Straβe 9, 87439 Kempten, Germany. phone: +49-831-570577-10; fax: +49-831-570577-51
    • ,
  • Reinhard Hettich

      Affiliations

    • Dres. Heigl, Hettich & Partner, Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum Kempten-Allgäu, Kempten, Germany
    • ,
  • Markus Suckfuell

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, Germany
    • ,
  • Christian W. Luebbers

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum Dachau, Germany
    • ,
  • D. Osterkorn

      Affiliations

    • Medizinisches Wirtschaftsinstitut, Munich, Germany
    • ,
  • K. Osterkorn

      Affiliations

    • Medizinisches Wirtschaftsinstitut, Munich, Germany
    • ,
  • Martin Canis

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, Germany

Abstract 

Background

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) may be caused by a reduction of cochlear perfusion. Cholesterol and fibrinogen negatively influence rheological properties of blood thus leading to alteration of microcirculation. Fibrinogen/LDL apheresis improves cochlear blood flow by acutely decreasing plasma cholesterol and fibrinogen.

Methods

Remission rates of 217 patients with SSHL were analysed retrospectively after single apheresis. All patients had been treated otherwise before without any improvement of hearing. We investigated data in regard to frequency of hearing loss and time between onset of symptoms and apheresis.

Results

15% of all patients had complete remissions, whereas partial remissions were seen in 46%. No change of hearing threshold was seen in 33%, 2% worsened. Remission rates decreased from 70% for a time of 2 weeks between onset of SSHL and apheresis to 63% and 21% for 6 weeks and 3 months.

Conclusion

The present study shows that apheresis was followed by complete or partial remissions in 61% of patients even as second line therapy. The window for good therapeutic success is approximately 6 weeks.

Keywords:  Fibrinogen/LDL apheresis , Sudden sensorineural hearing loss , Observational study , Remission rate

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PII: S1567-5688(09)71820-3

doi:10.1016/S1567-5688(09)71820-3

Atherosclerosis Supplements
Volume 10, Issue 5 , Pages 95-101, 29 December 2009

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