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Sudden deafness and Lyme disease
Maria Cecília Lorenzi1, Roseli S M Bittar, Maria Elisabete B Pedalini
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital das Clínicas and Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
The Laryngoscope
|February 5, 2003
Summary
Sudden deafness can be linked to Lyme disease, but Borrelia seropositivity did not predict hearing outcomes in this study. Patients with Lyme disease and sudden deafness showed similar recovery rates regardless of Borrelia antibody status.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Audiology
Background:
- Otolaryngological manifestations, including sudden deafness, are common in Lyme disease.
- The association between Lyme disease and sudden deafness is noted, with a significant percentage of sudden deafness cases showing seropositivity for Borrelia.
- There is a lack of consensus regarding the prognosis of Borrelia-seropositive patients and the clinical significance of Borrelia antibody titers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Borrelia seropositivity in patients presenting with sudden deafness.
- To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of sudden deafness in relation to Borrelia seropositivity.
- To compare the hearing outcomes between Borrelia-seropositive and seronegative patients with sudden deafness.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study was conducted.
- Forty-seven consecutive patients with sudden deafness were enrolled.
- Demographic data, presence of tinnitus and vertigo, and pure-tone averages were recorded; hearing recovery was assessed.
Main Results:
- Antibodies for Borrelia were detected in 21.3% of patients with sudden deafness.
- No significant differences were observed between seropositive and seronegative groups regarding age, sex, tinnitus, vertigo, or hearing thresholds.
- Hearing outcomes were comparable between Borrelia-seropositive and seronegative patient groups.
Conclusions:
- No distinct clinical features differentiate Borrelia-seropositive from seronegative individuals with sudden deafness.
- The hearing outcome for treated Borrelia-seropositive patients with sudden deafness is similar to that of seronegative patients.