@article{3115831,
    title = "Simultaneous and sequential bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss:
Are they different from unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss?",
    author = "Xenellis, John and Nikolopoulos, Thomas P. and Stavroulaki, Pelagia and and Marangoudakis, Pavlos and Androulakis, Michael and Tsangaroulakis, and Michael and Ferekidis, Eleftherios",
    journal = "ORL:  Journal for Oto - Rhino - Laryngology and Its Related Specialties",
    year = "2007",
    volume = "69",
    number = "5",
    pages = "306-310",
    publisher = "Karger",
    issn = "1423-0275",
    doi = "10.1159/000107435",
    keywords = "bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss; unilateral sudden
sensorineural hearing loss; autoimmune diseases; antinuclear antibody",
    abstract = "Aim: To compare bilateral (BSSHL) with unilateral (USSHL) sudden
sensorineural hearing loss. Methods and Subjects: Two hundred and
thirty-two patients with USSHL, 11 with simultaneous BSSHL and 7 with
sequential BSSHL, who were older than 15 years had onset of hearing loss
! 30 days, no head injuries or history of acoustic trauma. All patients
received the same treatment (prednisolone). Results: Hearing loss was
more severe in simultaneous BSSHL in comparison to sequential BSSHL (p =
0.01) or USSHL (p = 0.03). Autoimmune diseases were far more common in
simultaneous BSSHL (36% of patients) than USSHL. Positive antinuclear
antibody was found in half of BSSHL patients and in only 8% of
unilateral cases (p = 0.01). The frequency of hearing improvement was
much lower in simultaneous BSSHL than in USSHL (p = 0.001). Complete or
partial improvement was noted in 74% of unilateral cases versus 27% in
simultaneous bilateral cases. Patients with sequential BSSHL improved in
a similar way to unilateral cases. Conclusions: Simultaneous BSSHL,
sequential BSSHL and USSHL may have a completely different profile and
should not be managed as one disease. Hearing loss, underlying
autoimmune diseases, antinuclear antibodies, and improvement/recovery of
hearing loss vary in a degree that implies different pathophysiology and
prognosis. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel."
}