Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events

BackgroundIdiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a common clinical condition. Recent studies indicate that approximately 20% of ISSNHL cases may involve perilymphatic fistula (PLF). The detection of Cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) in middle-ear lavage samples confirms the diagnosis of PL...

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Main Authors: Han Matsuda, Yukihide Maeda, Tomoyasu Kitahara, Masafumi Sawada, Hiroe Kudo, Kei Sakamoto, Atsuya Takayama, Tetsuo Ikezono
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1571379/full
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author Han Matsuda
Yukihide Maeda
Tomoyasu Kitahara
Masafumi Sawada
Hiroe Kudo
Kei Sakamoto
Atsuya Takayama
Tetsuo Ikezono
author_facet Han Matsuda
Yukihide Maeda
Tomoyasu Kitahara
Masafumi Sawada
Hiroe Kudo
Kei Sakamoto
Atsuya Takayama
Tetsuo Ikezono
author_sort Han Matsuda
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIdiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a common clinical condition. Recent studies indicate that approximately 20% of ISSNHL cases may involve perilymphatic fistula (PLF). The detection of Cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) in middle-ear lavage samples confirms the diagnosis of PLF.Aims/ObjectivesTo clarify the clinical characteristics of inner ear–related symptoms in patients with PLF who lacked any antecedent traumatic events prior to symptom onset.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical records and CTP test results in 769 cases from 70 hospitals in Japan.ResultsAmong these cases, 204 had no history of antecedent events. CTP-positive findings were more frequently observed in patients exhibiting fluctuating and/or progressive hearing loss than in those without these symptoms (p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). The odds of a positive CTP test did not differ between patients with and without vestibular symptoms, nystagmus, a fistula sign, a popping sensation, or streaming water–like tinnitus (p > 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). The CTP positivity rate was highest in patients with a high-frequency sloping audiogram.Conclusions and significanceFluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may reasonably suggest PLF in the absence of antecedent traumatic events.
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spelling doaj-art-570acb00861f42769ffef4dfd3b507712025-08-20T03:06:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-04-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15713791571379Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic eventsHan MatsudaYukihide MaedaTomoyasu KitaharaMasafumi SawadaHiroe KudoKei SakamotoAtsuya TakayamaTetsuo IkezonoBackgroundIdiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a common clinical condition. Recent studies indicate that approximately 20% of ISSNHL cases may involve perilymphatic fistula (PLF). The detection of Cochlin-tomoprotein (CTP) in middle-ear lavage samples confirms the diagnosis of PLF.Aims/ObjectivesTo clarify the clinical characteristics of inner ear–related symptoms in patients with PLF who lacked any antecedent traumatic events prior to symptom onset.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed clinical records and CTP test results in 769 cases from 70 hospitals in Japan.ResultsAmong these cases, 204 had no history of antecedent events. CTP-positive findings were more frequently observed in patients exhibiting fluctuating and/or progressive hearing loss than in those without these symptoms (p < 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). The odds of a positive CTP test did not differ between patients with and without vestibular symptoms, nystagmus, a fistula sign, a popping sensation, or streaming water–like tinnitus (p > 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). The CTP positivity rate was highest in patients with a high-frequency sloping audiogram.Conclusions and significanceFluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may reasonably suggest PLF in the absence of antecedent traumatic events.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1571379/fullPerilymphatic fistulaantecedent traumatic eventsidiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing lossCochlin-tomoproteinfluctuating hearing lossprogressive hearing loss
spellingShingle Han Matsuda
Yukihide Maeda
Tomoyasu Kitahara
Masafumi Sawada
Hiroe Kudo
Kei Sakamoto
Atsuya Takayama
Tetsuo Ikezono
Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events
Frontiers in Neurology
Perilymphatic fistula
antecedent traumatic events
idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Cochlin-tomoprotein
fluctuating hearing loss
progressive hearing loss
title Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events
title_full Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events
title_fullStr Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events
title_full_unstemmed Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events
title_short Fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle-to-high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events
title_sort fluctuating or progressive hearing loss in the middle to high frequencies may suggest the neurotologic endotype of perilymphatic fistula without antecedent traumatic events
topic Perilymphatic fistula
antecedent traumatic events
idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Cochlin-tomoprotein
fluctuating hearing loss
progressive hearing loss
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1571379/full
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