J Rheum Dis.  2013 Apr;20(2):132-135. 10.4078/jrd.2013.20.2.132.

A Case of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in a Patient with Axial Spondyloarthritis

• Cho HJ
• Yo I
• Ryu H
• Lee J
• Beak HJ

• KMID: 2223040
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2013.20.2.132

Abstract

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is rarely presented in patients with several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. We report a case of sudden SNHL in a patient with axial spondyloarthritis (aSpA). A 29-year-old male with aSpA was admitted for sudden unilateral hearing loss. His aSpA symptom was stable; however, pure tone audiometry revealed that he had SNHL in the left ear at low frequency. His hearing was fully recovered with systemic and local steroid therapy. This case suggests that sudden SNHL may be an extra-articular manifestation of aSpA and thus need prompt steroid therapy in order to restore hearing.

Keyword

Sensorineural hearing loss; Axial spondyloarthritis; Ankylosing spondylitis

MeSH Terms

Audiometry
Ear
Hearing
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Hearing Loss, Unilateral
Humans
Male
Spondylitis, Ankylosing

Figure

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  Figure 1. Pelvic bone MRI showed subchondral bone erosions with bone marrow edema on bilateral sacroiliac joints.

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  Figure 2. Pure tone audiogram showed that the right ear was normal, but the hearing threshold level of the left ear was increased to 45 dB HL in air conduction (AC) audiometry and bone conduction (BC) audiometry.

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  Figure 3. Pure tone audiogram after steroid treatment showed a normalized hearing threshold level of the left ear.

Reference

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