Pirodda A, Brandolini C, Ferri GG, Raimondi MC, Modugno GC, Esposti DD, Borghi C.

Department of Specialistic Surgery and Anaesthesiological Sciences, University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, via Massarenti No. 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

Assuming the possibility of the inner ear damage due to a hemodynamic imbalance essentially due to an abnormal vasomotor regulatory response, the possibility that heart rate (HR) has a correlation with the onset and/or the enhancement of tinnitus is hypothesized. In fact, recent studies have drawn the influence of other factors than blood pressure, in normotensive subjects, in taking part to the regulation of peripheral resistance, outlining the importance of both cardiac output (CO) - which is a function of heart rate (HR) and stroke volume (SV) and SV itself as a dynamic component to baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). From this point of view, it could be possible that a condition of bradycardia can enhance tinnitus regardless of its cause, and conversely that a more elevated HR can be related to a relief of this symptom.