Study of 100 patients with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss for lipid abnormalities.

One hundred persons were selected from our audiology records who showed at least 20 dB bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The number 100 was picked for an adequate statistical analysis. The patients were taken from the chart files which are filed in chronological order. Letters were mailed with instructions for fasting 14 hours prior to testing except for the consumption of water. On presentation, a history was taken for diabetes, height and weight, and the blood pressure was recorded. The blood samples were drawn in clot tubes and taken to a commercial laboratory for overnight refrigeration and testing of the serum. Testing included observation of serum for massive chylomicronemia, triglycerides, cholesterol and lipoprotein electrophoresis (by the cellulose acetate method). Lipoprotein testing results showed 12 patients with Type II A or II B and 8 patients with Type IV abnormalities. No Types I, III or V were found. These 20 patients represent a lower number of hyperlipoproteinemic patients than would be expected in the general population.