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Detection of syphilitic hearing loss
Archives of Otolaryngology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|February 1, 1978
Summary
Syphilis infection can lead to sensorineural hearing loss. Testing using the FTA-ABS test identified a higher incidence of syphilis in patients with unexplained hearing loss, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Syphilis is a known, albeit uncommon, cause of sensorineural hearing loss.
- The diagnostic utility of serological tests for syphilis in patients with unexplained sensorineural hearing loss requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of positive serological findings for syphilis in patients presenting with sensorineural hearing loss of obscure origin.
- To compare the efficacy of the Rapid Plasma Reagin Card Test (RPRCT) and the FTA-ABS test in diagnosing syphilitic hearing loss.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 306 patients with sensorineural hearing loss of unknown cause underwent serological testing.
- Tests included the Rapid Plasma Reagin Card Test (RPRCT) and the FTA-ABS test.
- A control group of 100 individuals with no hearing loss was also tested.
Main Results:
- Twenty out of 306 patients (6.5%) with sensorineural hearing loss had positive FTA-ABS test results.
- In contrast, only two out of 100 control subjects (2%) showed positive results.
- Significant variability was observed in the false-negative and biological false-positive rates of the RPRCT when compared to the FTA-ABS test.
Conclusions:
- Syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss, even in the absence of a known history of infection.
- The FTA-ABS test is the preferred serological method for ruling out syphilitic hearing loss.