From the Research
Biomarkers for Tinnitus
Biomarkers for tinnitus can be categorized into several types, including:
- Metabolic biomarkers
- Hemostatic biomarkers
- Inflammatory biomarkers
- Endocrine biomarkers
- Immunological biomarkers
- Neurologic biomarkers
- Oxidative biomarkers 1 Some specific biomarkers that have been identified include:
- IL10, which has been shown to be lower in individuals with tinnitus 2
- TGF-β, which has been shown to be lower in older individuals 2
- IL1α, which has been shown to be higher in individuals with tonal tinnitus 2
- IL2, which has been shown to be lower in individuals who report partial or complete residual inhibition 2
- HSP70, which has been shown to be negatively correlated with tinnitus loudness 2
- TNF-α, which has been shown to be sensitive to the time of sample collection 2
- GRM7 and NAT2, which have been identified as potential genetic markers for presbycusis and tinnitus 3
Audiological Biomarkers
Audiological biomarkers, such as those measured through electroencephalography (EEG) and auditory brainstem responses (ABR), can also be used to diagnose and characterize tinnitus. For example:
- Connectivity features in EEG signals, such as phase-locking value (PLV) and phase lag index (PLI), have been shown to be effective biomarkers for tinnitus 4
- ABR wave I amplitude has been shown to be a protective factor against tinnitus, and the mean ratio V/I of ABR has been shown to be associated with tinnitus severity 5
Inflammatory Biomarkers
Inflammatory biomarkers, such as cytokines and heat shock proteins, have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of tinnitus. For example: