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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
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Subclinical sensorineural hearing loss in systemic lupus erythematosus: a comparative cross-sectional study
Dionicio Ángel Galarza-Delgado1, Jorge Eduardo Juárez-Silva2, Jesús Alonso Baca-Soto2
1Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González", Monterrey, México.
Clinical Rheumatology
|May 30, 2025
Summary
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a significantly higher risk of developing sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), especially at very high frequencies. Extended audiometry is crucial for early detection of subclinical SNHL in SLE patients.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Rheumatology
- Audiology
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease impacting various organs, including the auditory system.
- Hearing loss is a potential complication of SLE, necessitating investigation into its prevalence and characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of hearing loss in SLE patients compared to controls.
- To assess frequency-specific hearing thresholds using extended audiometry (500-16,000 Hz).
Main Methods:
- A comparative cross-sectional study involving 75 SLE patients and 150 matched controls.
- All participants underwent otolaryngological evaluation, conventional and extended audiometry, and tympanometry.
Main Results:
- SLE patients exhibited a higher prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) across all frequencies.
- Elevated hearing thresholds, particularly in the very high frequencies (10-16 kHz), were observed in SLE patients.
- SLE and older age were independent predictors of SNHL.
Conclusions:
- Patients with SLE have a significantly increased prevalence of SNHL, especially at very-high frequencies, compared to healthy controls.
- Extended audiometry is essential for the early detection of subclinical SNHL in SLE patients.
- Age is a significant predictor of SNHL in SLE patients; comorbidities, disease activity, and treatment did not show significance.
