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Thromb Haemost 2020; 120(09): 1291-1299
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713924
Cellular Haemostasis and Platelets

Plasma Serotonin is Elevated in Adult Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Ludovic Drouet
1   Anticoagulation Clinic (CREATIF), Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
2   Université de Paris, Paris, France
,
Charlotte Hautefort
3   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
,
Hélène Vitaux
3   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
,
Romain Kania
2   Université de Paris, Paris, France
3   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
,
Jacques Callebert
2   Université de Paris, Paris, France
4   Department of Biochemistry, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
,
Alain Stepanian
5   Department of Biological Haematology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
,
Virginie Siguret
2   Université de Paris, Paris, France
5   Department of Biological Haematology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
6   Inserm UMR-S1140, Paris, France
,
Michael Eliezer
7   Department of Neuroradiology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
,
Nicolas Vodovar
8   Inserm UMR-S 942, Paris, France
,
Jean-Marie Launay
2   Université de Paris, Paris, France
8   Inserm UMR-S 942, Paris, France
9   Centre for Biological Resources BB-0033-00064, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was funded by the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (grant: ANR-16-CE16-0021-03) to J.M.L. and J.C.
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Abstract

Background The roles of thrombophilia and cardiovascular risk factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) remain controversial. Cochlear microthrombosis and vasospasm have been hypothesized as possible pathogenic mechanisms of SSNHL. This article investigates the circulating serotonin and homocysteine levels besides thrombophilia screening in patients with idiopathic SSNHL.

Methods A total of 133 SSNHL patients and age- and sex-matched controls were investigated (discovery cohort). Measurement included common inherited natural coagulation inhibitors, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor (VWF), antiphospholipid antibodies, homocysteine, and serotonin (whole blood, platelet, and plasma) levels, along with frequent relevant genetic variants. A validation cohort (128 SSNHL patients) was studied for homocysteine and serotonin levels.

Results and Conclusion In the discovery cohort, 58.6% of patients exhibited thrombophilia, of which most had a low to moderate titers of antiphospholipid antibodies and high levels of factor VIII/VWF. Twenty-seven patients (20%) had mild-to-moderate hyperhomocysteinemia or were homozygous for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation. Regarding serotonin, SSNHL patients had elevated whole blood levels that remained within the normal range and normal platelet content. However, approximately 90% patients of both cohorts had elevated plasma serotonin. Elevated plasma serotoninemia was accompanied by serotonylation of platelet rhoA protein. This study shows that increased plasma serotonin appears as a biomarker of SSNHL (specificity: ∼96%, sensitivity: ∼90%) and could participate in the pathophysiology of SSNHL.

Keywords

hearing loss - microvessels - plasma serotonin - thrombophilia

Authors' Contributions

L.D. and J.M.L. conceived and designed the study. C.H., H.V., M.E., R.K., and L.D. studied the patients. J.C., N.V., A.S., V.S., and J.M.L. performed laboratory measurements. N.V., L.D., A.S., V.S., and J.M.L. analyzed the data. N.V., R.K., L.D., and J.M.L. wrote the paper, and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.




Publication History

Received: 09 March 2020

Accepted: 28 May 2020

Article published online:
27 July 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

Comment to this article:

A Liaison between Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and SARS-CoV-2 InfectionThromb Haemost 2020; 120(09): 1237-1239
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1714370

 

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