Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate whether serum leptin levels are altered in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients.

MATERIALS and METHODS: The study was performed between March 2010 and December 2011 in the otorhinolaryngology department of a tertiary referral center. A total of 33 idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients and 38 healthy controls were compared in terms of demographic features (age, gender, and body mass index) and serum leptin levels. Serum leptin levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and statistical analysis was conducted via Mann-Whitney U- and student t-tests.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients and the control group in terms of serum leptin levels (p=0.195), age (p=0.290), and body mass index (p=0.104). The patient and control groups displayed significant differences only with respect to gender distribution (p=0.002).

CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that serum leptin levels in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients were not different from controls. Any possible role of leptin in the pathophysiology of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss remains to be elucidated by further prospective, randomized, and controlled trials in larger series.