2.2 Patients and serum samples
Fifty-two patients with SSNHL, admitted to [removed for blind peer
review] from March 2019 to August 2019, were enrolled in this study.
Eligible patients for this study met the following criteria: 1) had
sensorineural hearing loss of 30 dB or greater over in at least three
contiguous audiometric frequencies within 72 hours; 2) had no history of
retrocochlear disease; 3) received treatment in 3 days after onset and
had no treatment in other hospitals. Patients were excluded if they had
the following diseases: 1) hypertension; 2) diabetes mellitus; 3)
autoimmune disease; 4) cancer; 5) any other contraindications for
glucocorticoid. Patients were discharged if they met the criteria of CR
or had a two-week time of hospitalization. Blood samples were collected
before and following treatment and serums were separated after
centrifugation and stored at -80℃ immediately.