Further analyses showed asignificant negative correlation between the plasma level of MMP-9 proteinmeasured at cochlear implantation with LEAQ score measured at the end-pointobservation (LEAQ_18) for (i) the whole study group; (ii) the DFNB1-relateddeafness subgroup; and (iii) the subgroup with DFNB1-related deafness and CIactivation after 1 year of life (p = 0.04,rho = –0.25; p = 0.005, rho = –0.4; andp = 0.01, rho = 0.5, respectively)(Figs. 1–3). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is deafness.