Evaluation of the immature granulocyte count in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Aims: The purpose of our study was to show whether the immature granulocyte count (IGC) can be used as a prognostic marker in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Methods: This study is a retrospective case-control clinical study. Patients presenting to our clinic between June 2019 and June 2022, diagnosed with ISSNHL, and receiving the same treatment protocol were investigated. Preoperative complete blood count values of 40 normal individuals with normal hearing who presented to our clinic due to nasal septum deviation were adopted as the control group. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) (platelet × neutrophil / lymphocyte) values were calculated in addition to IGC values in complete blood counts from the patient and control groups. The patient group was classified into treatment-responsive and non-responsive subgroups according to the results of audiological examinations performed after one month based on Siegel’s criteria. IGC, SII, NRL, and PLT values were compared between all groups. Results: Comparison of the patient and control group’s complete blood count data revealed higher leukocyte and neutrophil counts, IGC and also NLR, PLR, and SII values in the patient group compared to the control group. However, lymphocyte counts were lower in the patient group. None of the parameters previously emerging as significant in the data of patients with healing and non-healing idiopathic sudden hearing loss were statistically significant, and IGC is of no prognostic value in ISSNHL. Conclusion: IGC may be a novel and inexpensive indicator of ISSNHL and one easily determined with complete blood count, but it is of no prognostic value in the disease.