HEPARIN-INDUCED EXTRACORPOREAL LOW-DENSIT Y-LIPOPROTEIN PRECIPITATIONTHERAPY FOR SUDDEN HEARING-LOSS - INITIAL RESULTS

Background: The H.E.L.P. (Heparin-induced extracorporal low-density li poprotein precipitation) system selectively eliminates fibrinogen, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, triglycerides, and LP (a) (lip oprotein a) from the blood plasma by means of extracorporal circulatio n. The reduction of these macromolecules immediately improves the hemo rheological situation and leads to a significant decrease of plasma vi scosity and red cell transmission time (RCTT), which correlates to the deformation of red blood cells. There are no known contraindications for this therapy. Patients: Sudden hearing loss patients who present t o our hospital are admitted for up to ten days. All patients undergo t he same standardized imaging studies and examinations, consisting of a udiological tests, Xrays and CT of the base of the skull, X-rays of th e cervical vertebral column, neurological and internal examination, bl ood tests, and CSF aspiration. Patients with no obvious etiology for t heir hearing loss and no improvement of their hearing after two weeks of treatment with intravenous vasodilators and corticosteroids were re ferred for the H.E.L.P protocol. Results: We report on five patients w ith idiopathic sudden hearing loss who following the H.E.L.P protocol showed complete remission or evident improvement of hearing after H.E. L.P therapy. Conclusions: Heparin-induced extracorporal LDL (low-densi ty lipoprotein) precipitation (H.E.L.P.) improves the blood flow and t he microcirculation and therefore could be a new and effective method for the treatment of sudden hearing loss.