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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
Progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss induced by an antithyroid drug
Masaki Sano1, Nobuo Kitahara, Ryutarou Kunikata
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan. gakutaikyo@yahoo.co.jp
Abstract:
We report a patient with antithyroid drug-induced progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss associated with myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-ANCA). While antithyroid drugs have been linked to MPO-ANCA-associated small-vessel vasculitis, sensorineural hearing loss rarely was noted. A 36-year-old man treated for hyperthyroidism with propylthiouracil (PTU) developed progressive bilateral sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by fever and arthritis. MPO-ANCA were demonstrated in serum. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions test results suggested dysfunction of outer hair cells of the organ of Corti. Inner ear blood flow impairment from ANCA-associated small-vessel vasculitis presumably caused cochlear dysfunction. PTU withdrawal and high-dose methylprednisolone administration greatly improved hearing on both sides.
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