The characteristic of otoacoustic emissions in full-term neonates according to ABO blood groups

Abstract Introduction: Previous research has suggested that individuals with different blood groups show varied incidences of noise-induced hearing loss. The reduced otoacoustic emissions amplitudes indicate the higher possibilities of outer hair cell damage for noise exposure. Objective: The objective is to analyze the characteristics of otoacoustic emissions, including the occurrence of spontaneous otoacoustic emission and the amplitudes of distortion product otoacoustic emission at certain frequencies in full term neonates with different ABO blood groups. Methods: A total of 80 selected full-term female neonates who passed the initial newborn hearing screen were enrolled into the study, with equal number of participants in four ABO blood groups (Blood Group A, Blood Group B, Blood Group AB, Blood Group O). Measurements of spontaneous otoacoustic emission and distortion product otoacoustic emission were performed in both ears for all participants. Results: (1) The blood group O participants showed significantly fewer spontaneous otoacoustic emission occurrences than the other three blood groups (A = 70%, B = 80%, AB = 67%, O = 25%, p < 0.05). (2) The blood group O participants showed lower DPOAE amplitudes at 1257 Hz (M = 4.55 dB, SD = 8.36), 1587 Hz (M = 11.60 dB, SD = 6.57), 3174 Hz (M = 7.25 dB, SD = 5.99), 5042 Hz (M = 13.60, SD = 6.70) than participants with the other three blood groups in left ears (p < 0.05). In right ears, the blood group O participants showed reduced amplitudes at 1257 Hz (M = 6.55 dB, SD = 8.36), 1587 Hz (M = 13.60 dB, SD = 6.57), 3174 Hz (M = 7.65 dB, SD = 6.43), 5042 Hz (M = 13.65 dB, SD = 6.50) than participants from non-O blood groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Female individuals with blood group O have lower otoacoustic emissions values than individuals with the other three blood groups. We need to further investigate the possible relationships between ABO blood group and cochlear function, including the potential influences of noise damage on cochlear outer hair cells.

引言：既往研究显示，不同血型人群的噪声性听力损失发病率存在差异。耳声发射（otoacoustic emissions）振幅降低，提示噪声暴露后外毛细胞损伤的可能性更高。研究目的：本研究旨在分析不同ABO血型（ABO blood groups）足月新生儿（full term neonates）的耳声发射特征，包括自发性耳声发射（spontaneous otoacoustic emission）的检出率，以及特定频率下畸变产物耳声发射（distortion product otoacoustic emission）的振幅。研究方法：本研究共纳入80名通过初始新生儿听力筛查（newborn hearing screen）的足月女婴，按ABO血型分为4组，每组各20名受试者（分别为A型、B型、AB型、O型血）。对所有受试者的双耳均开展自发性耳声发射与畸变产物耳声发射检测。研究结果：(1) O型血受试者的自发性耳声发射检出率显著低于其余3组（A型：70%，B型：80%，AB型：67%，O型：25%，p<0.05）。(2) 左耳检测结果显示，O型血受试者在1257Hz（均值=4.55dB，标准差=8.36）、1587Hz（均值=11.60dB，标准差=6.57）、3174Hz（均值=7.25dB，标准差=5.99）、5042Hz（均值=13.60dB，标准差=6.70）的畸变产物耳声发射振幅均低于其余3组（p<0.05）；右耳检测结果显示，O型血受试者在1257Hz（均值=6.55dB，标准差=8.36）、1587Hz（均值=13.60dB，标准差=6.57）、3174Hz（均值=7.65dB，标准差=6.43）、5042Hz（均值=13.65dB，标准差=6.50）的畸变产物耳声发射振幅同样低于非O型血受试者（p<0.05）。研究结论：O型血女性的耳声发射指标均低于其余3种血型人群。后续需进一步探究ABO血型与耳蜗功能的潜在关联，包括噪声损伤对耳蜗外毛细胞的潜在影响。