[Selected parameters of immune reactivity in patients with sensorineural hearing loss. III. Metabolic activity of...

The evaluation of peripheral blood neutrophils functional state in 27 patients with progressive bilateral and 7 patients with sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) before and in the first period of ubiquitine therapy was performed. The metabolic activity of cells in NBT reduction tests: spontaneous (NBT-sp) and stimulated with LPS E. coli (NBT-st) were examined. The results in mean percentage and absolute number of NBT-positive cells, relative coefficient of neutrophil metabolic activity (CNMA) and also calculated NBT index were presented. Significant percentage of patients with increased NBT-sp test values before treatment and in the second examination were noticed. Relative CNMA was 3-6 times higher than normal values. The neutrophils of patients had a remarkably decreased ability to response to LPS stimulation. In patients with progressive bilateral SNHL during treatment with TFX considerable increase of patients (from 37.9 to 76.5%) with normal values in NBT-st reduction tests was found. The increased values of NBT-sp reduction tests and relative CNMA may suggest the presence of inflammation process or infection. The decreased values of NBT index which were observed confirm the existence of disturbances in neutrophils metabolic activity and lack of functional reserve of these cells. Usefulness of NBT reduction tests in patients with SNHL is discussed.