SUDDEN DEAFNESS REPORT OF 3 CASES, ESPECIALLY ABOUT VIRAL ETIOLOGY
1976 Volume 79 Issue 2 Pages 142-150
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1976 Volume 79 Issue 2 Pages 142-150
Many etiologies of sudden deafness have been reported and three of them are especially noticed, which are viral, vascular and labyrinthine window rupture. In addition, immunological factor may also be important. Three cases of sudden deafness with vertige were reported and the etiology discussed in each case.
Case 1: A 37-year-old male who had been suffering from common cold for two weeks, complained of right severe hearing loss and Vertigo following sneezing. He was examined and found with high pressure of cerebrospinal fluid (270mm H2O). As there was no improvement in hearing by any treatment, probe tympanotomy was performed and fluid leak at the round window niche was observed (round window rupture). Cerebrospinal fluid was examined virologically and herpes type virus was detected.
Case 2: A 71-year-old female complained vertigo and left severe hearing loss after symptoms of common cold. Examination revealed disturbance of the left inner ear function, normal pressure of cerebrospinal fluid (120mm H2O), and round window rupture. Herpes type virus was detected in her cerebrospinal fluid. There was no improvement in hearing by any treatment.
Case 3: A 17-year-old high school girl suffered from the sudden onset of severe hearing loss in the right ear vertigo. No episodes like common cold or sneezing were found. Examination revealed only disturbance of the right inner ear function, and her hearing and vertigo were improved by treatment with anticoagulant (heparin). We could not detect virus in her cerebrospinal fluid.
On the basis of these findings, it was suggest that Case 1 and Case 2 are of the viral etiology with round window ruptures due to increased pressure of cerebrospinal fluid or of the middle ear cavity associatdd with anatomical factor as patent cochlear aqueduct, and the prognosis of these cases may be poor. Case 3 is suggested to be of the vascular etiology because of good response to anticoagulant, but, as the symptoms of this case resemble those of Meniere's disease, immunological factor may play an important role
