Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2001 Sep;44(9):990-992.

Sudden Hearing Loss in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Implicating Hyperviscosity Syndrome

• Chae SW
• Cho JH
• Lee JH
• Hwang SJ

Abstract

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss due to the initial manifestation of hematologic disease is very rare. Chronic myelogenous leukemia has been implicated as a causative factor of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Leukemic infiltration, hemorrhage, infection, and hyperviscosity have been suggested as possible mechanisms in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. A 49-year-old male presented unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The patient was found to have chronic myelogenous leukemia during the work-up for the hearing loss. The WBC count upon admission was 485,100/mm(3). Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet count were within the normal limits. The patient underwent three cycles of leukapheresis and chemotherapy with interferon alpha and hydroxyurea for the treatment of leukemia. The hearing threshold level was 75 dB on admission. It improved to 35 dB when the WBC count fell to 294,000/mm(3), and finally settled at 32 dB two weeks after the termination of chemotherapy when the WBC count was 125,900/mm(3). We present a case of a chronic myelogenous leukemia patient who initially presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. We presume that cochlear vessel occlusion as a result of elevated blood viscosity was responsible for this patient's hearing loss. Early onset of sudden deafness in a chronic myelogenous leukemia patient may be due to the hyperviscosity syndrome and be possible to reverse hearing loss through early leukapheresis.

Keyword

Sudden hearing loss; Hyperviscosity syndrome; Chronic myelogenous leukemia

MeSH Terms

Blood Viscosity
Drug Therapy
Hearing
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Hearing Loss, Sudden*
Hematocrit
Hematologic Diseases
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hydroxyurea
Interferon-alpha
Leukapheresis
Leukemia
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive*
Leukemic Infiltration
Male
Middle Aged
Platelet Count
Hydroxyurea
Interferon-alpha