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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
08:43
Investigating Intestinal Inflammation in DSS-induced Model of IBD
Published on: February 1, 2012
Auditory Involvement in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Clinical Predictors and Prognostic Implications
Kaori Mohri1, Taro Fujikawa1,2, Toshimitsu Fujii3
1Department of Otolaryngology, Institute of Science Tokyo Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Summary
Hearing loss is a common extraintestinal manifestation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, even in remission. Early detection of subclinical hearing loss is crucial for preventing further impairment.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Gastroenterology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease, can present with various extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs).
- Hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness are potential auditory and vestibular symptoms experienced by IBD patients.
- The prevalence and clinical significance of hearing loss as an EIM in IBD require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency and characteristics of hearing loss in patients with IBD.
- To identify predictors associated with hearing loss in this population.
- To assess the clinical significance of hearing loss concerning intestinal prognosis.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary referral center.
- 281 IBD patients (UC or Crohn disease in remission) and 10,681 controls with normal hearing were included.
- Auditory and vestibular symptoms were assessed via questionnaires, supplemented by pure-tone audiometry. Multivariate logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used.
Main Results:
- 19% of IBD patients reported subjective hearing loss, 21% tinnitus, and 28% dizziness.
- Sensorineural hearing loss was diagnosed in 33% of patients, with early-onset low-frequency elevation.
- Male sex, UC diagnosis, longer disease duration, and a negative CRP/albumin ratio predicted hearing loss; no association with intestinal relapse was found.
Conclusions:
- Hearing loss is a frequent EIM in IBD patients, potentially emerging in early adulthood even during disease remission.
- Subclinical hearing loss may precede significant auditory impairment.
- Early screening for hearing loss in IBD patients is recommended to mitigate long-term effects.
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