Ulcerative colitis and sensorineural hearing loss: is there a relationship?

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with known systemic complications.
• Otorhinolaryngologic manifestations of UC are uncommon but recognized.

Observation:

• A patient with ulcerative colitis presented with sudden onset of severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
• The patient also experienced significant vestibular dysfunction, impacting balance and spatial orientation.

Findings:

• The hearing deficit and vestibular symptoms in this UC patient were successfully treated with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide.
• This represents a previously unreported association between ulcerative colitis and severe sensorineural hearing loss with vestibular dysfunction.

Implications:

• This case highlights a potential, albeit rare, otologic complication of ulcerative colitis.
• The positive response to immunosuppressive therapy suggests an immune-mediated mechanism may underlie these symptoms.
• Further research is warranted to explore the link between inflammatory bowel disease and audiovestibular disorders.