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Hearing Loss as the Presenting Feature of Systemic Vasculitis
Author(s) -
LIDAR MERAV,
CARMEL ELDAR,
KRONENBERG YONA,
LANGEVITZ PNINA
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1381.015
Subject(s) - medicine , vasculitis , systemic vasculitis , hearing loss , sensorineural hearing loss , dermatology , systemic disease , presentation (obstetrics) , disease , pathology , surgery , audiology
: Hearing loss, both sensorineural and conductive, is a well‐recognized manifestation of systemic vasculitis, yet has only infrequently been described as its initial presentation. We describe three cases in which hearing loss preceded the diagnosis of systemic vasculitis by a period of a few weeks to more than 6 months. While steroid therapy was initiated immediately in one of the cases, comprehensive immunosuppressive therapy was given only after additional manifestations compatible with vasculitis appeared, allowing for a diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis in two of the cases and undifferentiated vasculitis, in the third. Hearing improved in all patients, albeit, residual dysfunction remained. Prompt referral for a complete rheumatologic workup in cases of unexplained hearing loss would allow for a timely diagnosis of a collagen vascular disease and facilitate early initiation of systemic therapy, possibly yielding better audiological results .