Peripheral and central audiologic findings in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome

Abstract

Objective

To identify and describe peripheral and central audiological abnormalities of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome.

Materials and methods

Prospective, cross-sectional, observational, descriptive study. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada patients referred from an ophthalmologic centre were assessed for signs and symptoms of auditory pathology. Peripheral audiological and central auditory processing tests were performed. To standardize the latter, methodological controls were matched for sex, age and audiometric chart.

Results

Twenty-one patients were included (3 male, 18 female); mean age, 40.7 (11.82) years. Nine of the 21 complained of tinnitus and 9 suspected hearing loss. Exclusively or mainly sensorial abnormalities on the pure tone audiometry chart were documented in 61.9% (mainly selective troughs at 4 and 8 kHz); 95.3% of patients had deficit in high-frequency audiometry. Five of the patients had sensorial disorders in the speech audiometry. No central auditory processing disorder was seen.

Conclusions

Most of the patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome had objective peripheral audiological abnormalities, although few revealed any symptoms.

Resumen

Objetivo

Identificar y describir alteraciones audiológicas periféricas y centrales en pacientes con síndrome de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH).

Material y métodos

Estudio prospectivo, transversal, observacional y descriptivo. Buscamos en pacientes con VKH, referidos de centro oftalmológico, síntomas y signos de alteración audiológica y realizamos pruebas audiológicas periféricas y de procesos centrales de la audición (PCA). Para estandarizar estas últimas, utilizamos controles metodológicos pareados por edad, sexo y curva audiométrica.

Resultados

Incluimos 21 pacientes (3 varones y 18 mujeres), edad promedio: 40,7 años (± 11,82). Nueve de los 21 pacientes presentaron acúfeno y en 9 se sospechó hipoacusia. Documentamos alteración, exclusiva o mayoritariamente sensorial, de la audiometría convencional en el 61,9% (mayoritariamente caídas selectivas a 4 y 8 kHz) y de altas frecuencias en el 95,3% de los pacientes. Cinco de los 21 pacientes presentaron alteraciones sensoriales de la logoaudiometría. No se concluyó alteración de PCA.

Conclusiones

La mayoría de los pacientes con VKH presentaron alteraciones objetivas de la función auditiva periférica, aunque pocos manifestaron sintomatología.