Clinical study of acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss: survey and analysis of glycerol test and orthostatic test

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2002 Feb;111(2):160-4. doi: 10.1177/000348940211100209.

Abstract

Fifty patients (14 men and 36 women ranging in age from 16 to 66 years) with acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The glycerol test and the orthostatic test were performed. On the glycerol test, 43.8% of 16 ears of the 14 men and 33.3% of 39 ears of the 36 women with ALHL had a positive result. On the orthostatic test, 42.9% of the 14 men and 52.7% of the 36 women with ALHL had a positive result. In addition, 28.6% of the 14 men and 33.3% of the 36 women had hypotension with a systolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg or less. Our results suggest that endolymphatic hydrops as shown by the glycerol test and an underlying autonomic imbalance and/or insufficient blood circulation as shown by the orthostatic test may be important factors in the causation of ALHL.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Audiometry, Pure-Tone
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Endolymphatic Hydrops / complications*
  • Endolymphatic Hydrops / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Glycerol* / administration & dosage
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / diagnosis
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / complications*
  • Hypotension, Orthostatic / diagnosis
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Glycerol