3.3 Changes of serum MMP-9 concentration prior to and following
treatment in different outcomes of patients with SSNHL.
Given an increase of MMP-9 concentration in patients following treatment
was identified, we further detected whether changes in MMP-9
concentration had a significant difference in the outcomes of patients.
In treatment responders, mean MMP-9 concentration was elevated from
106.85±41.40ng/ml to 144.03±37.65ng/ml following treatment, while it was
decreased from 132.09±59.21ng/ml to 106.82±49.93 ng/ml in
non-responders. Anecdotally, a difference was found in responders
(P<0.001), however, the decrease of MMP-9 concentration in
non-responders did not have statistically difference (P=0.142). Next, we
examined if differences existed in each subgroup of treatment
responders. Patients in PI, MI and CR subgroup all gained an increase of
MMP-9 concentration following treatment (pre-treatment vs
post-treatment, 115.62±40.52ng/ml vs 161.23±44.95 ng/ml,
98.45±49.84ng/ml vs 138.46±32.34ng/ml, 109.87±20.47ng/ml vs
140.99±25.72ng/ml, respectively). And with the nonparametric
Mann-Whitney U test, we found significant differences in each group
(Fig. II, P=0.047, P=0.005, and P=0.038, respectively).