SUDDEN HEARING-LOSS CAUSED BY ARTERIAL-HY POTENSION

The aim of this study was to confirm the hypothesis based on clinical observations of a causal relationship between arterial hypotension and sudden hearing loss of lower frequencies. A noninvasive system was us ed that enables repeated blood pressure measurements at programmable t ime intervals. With this method 24-hour blood pressure monitoring was performed on 81 patients with sudden inner ear hearing loss proved by audiological tests (and in part defined by magnetic resonance imaging) . The profiles of the circadian blood pressures recorded actually reve aled a significant incidence of low-frequency hearing loss of up to 30 dB HL in the patient group suffering from arterial hypotension compar ed to those showing normal blood pressure or hypertension. In the pati ent group designated arterial hypotension may be the probable cause fo r sudden hearing impairments and should be regarded as a circulatory d isorder with certain implications for management.