A New Hematological Marker for Idiopathic Tinnitus: Monocyte/HDL ratio

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR) and idiopathic tinnitus. Study Design: Retrospective case-control study. Material-method: Eighty-nine patients with idiopathic tinnitus diagnosed on an outpatient basis between March 2015 and June 2016 and 87 healthy individuals who presented to our hospital for a routine health examination and had normal audiometry and otoscopy results were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained from patients during the first examination. The MHR was calculated as the ratio of the monocyte count to the HDL level. MHR ratios were compared statistically between the groups. Results: The monocyte count and the MHR were higher and HDL was lower in the study group compared to the control group (p< 0.05). The cut-off value of MHR for diagnosing tinnitus was 11. Conclusion: The MHR ratio was high in patients with idiopathic tinnitus, which supports the fact that atherosclerotic events and oxidative stress are implicated in the etiology of tinnitus.