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Hearing and Sjögren's syndrome
M S Trott1, G B Hughes, L H Calabrese
1Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, Ohio, USA.
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) may not directly cause sensorineural hearing loss. This preliminary study found hearing loss in some patients, but immune responses in the inner ear were not clearly linked to SS-related hearing deficits.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Sensorineural hearing loss is linked to systemic immune diseases.
- The specific impact of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) on hearing remains unclear.
- Investigating immune-mediated hearing loss in SS is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of hearing loss in patients with SS.
- To determine if hearing loss in SS patients is immune-mediated.
- To evaluate inner ear immune reactivity in SS.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design.
- Basic audiologic tests for hearing evaluation.
- Lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) for cellular immune inner ear reactivity.
Main Results:
- Three out of 14 SS patients showed sensorineural hearing loss.
- Two SS patients had a positive LTT without sensorineural hearing loss.
- No direct causal link between SS and immune-mediated sensorineural hearing loss was established.
Conclusions:
- Sjögren's syndrome may not be a direct cause of sensorineural hearing loss.
- The relationship between SS, immune responses, and hearing loss requires further investigation.
- This preliminary study suggests SS does not directly cause immune-mediated hearing loss.