[H.E.L.P. therapy (heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation) in sudden deafness].

BACKGROUND

The H.E.L.P. (Heparin-induced extracorporal low-density lipoprotein precipitation) system selectively eliminates fibrinogen, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, triglycerides, and LP (a) (lipoprotein a) from the blood plasma by means of extracorporal circulation. The reduction of these macromolecules immediately improves the hemorheological situation and leads to a significant decrease of plasma viscosity and red cell transmission time (RCTT), which correlates to the deformation of red blood cells. There are no known contraindications for this therapy.

PATIENTS

Sudden hearing loss patients who present to our hospital are admitted for up to ten days. All patients undergo the same standardized imaging studies and examinations, consisting of audiological tests, X-rays and CT of the base of the skull, X-rays of the cervical vertebral column, neurological and internal examination, blood tests, and CSF aspiration. Patients with no obvious etiology for their hearing loss and no improvement of their hearing after two weeks of treatment with intravenous vasodilators and corticosteroids were referred for the H.E.L.P. protocol.

RESULTS

We report on five patients with idiopathic sudden hearing loss who following the H.E.L.P. protocol showed complete remission or evident improvement of hearing after H.E.L.P. therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Heparin-induced extracorporal LDL (low-density lipoprotein) precipitation (H.E.L.P.) improves the blood flow and the microcirculation and therefore could be a new and effective method for the treatment of sudden hearing loss.