Audiological and Electrophysiological Changes in Patients with Vitiligo

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the audiological and electrophysiological findings in patients with Vitiligo and to compare the findings with otologically and audiologically normal controls. Study group included 50 subjects (25 Males, 25 Females) with Vitiligo (Mean age-27.4 years) and control group contained 40 age-matched normal hearing subjects. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) with extended high frequency audiometry, Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), Tympanometry, Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and Middle latency responses (MLR) were conducted in all subjects. Comparison of the study group with the control group showed statistically significant differences (p \ 0.05) on PTA, in Transient otoacoustic emissions (TOAEs) at 1, 2, 3, 4 kHz and in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at 357, 499, 704, 1003 Hz. On ABR, statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in wave I (p \ 0.01) in both ears, wave V (p \ 0.05) in left ear and on interpeak latency of I-III (p \ 0.01, p \ 0.05), III-V (p \ 0.01 in left ear) and I-V (p \ 0.01, p \ 0.05) in left and right ears respectively. When patients with localized vitiligo were compared with generalized vitiligo, the SNR of TOAEs was highly significant in both ears at 2 KHz (p \ 0.05), 3 kHz (p \ 0.01) and 4 kHz (p \ 0.05). PTA average of 2 KHz, 4 and 8 kHz (PTA2) showed a significant difference (p \ 0.01) when localized vitiligo was compared to generalized vitiligo. Results support possible auditory and electrophysiological changes in Vitiligo patients along with decreased cochlear function.

Assessment of auditory and vestibular functions in vitiligo patients

“…(2016) . On the other hand, the result of the study disagree with Arya et al. (2015) who found statistical difference in average amplitude of TOAEs in two groups (localized and generalized) in left ear at 2, 3 & 4 KHz.…”

“…This result strengthens the hypothesis that vitiligo is a significant factor for altered cochlear function, and that melanin as assumed could have an important role in cell metabolism, facilitating substance exchange and maintain endolymph, perilymph and ionic balance. Similar results obtained by Arya et al. (2015) who studied the audiological and electrophysiological changes in patients with vitiligo and to compare the finding with otologically and audiologically normal controls.…”

“…Melanocytes are primarily localized throughout the stria vascularis and modiolus of cochlea, they also present in the vestibular organs ( Aslan et al., 2010 ). Destruction of melanocytes in the inner ear which have multiple roles critical for hair cells survival, including maintenance of the normal function of stria vascularis and the cochlea, the development of endocochlear potentials and ion and fluid gradient between the endolymph and perilymph ( Arya et al., 2015 ).…”

“…Otoacoustic emissions are low intensity acoustic signal emitted by healthy cochlea. Otoacoustic emission recording is a reliable method to check the functionality of the outer hair cells in cochlea ( Arya et al., 2015 ).…”

Investigation the Relationship between Skin Involvement Severity and Hearing Loss Severity in Vitiligo Patients

“…In another study, a significant prevalence of hearing impairment has been reported in patients with vitiligo ( 16 ). In the study of Arya et al, It was found that the cochlea function reduced in patients with vitiligo, result in hearing impairment, so, they recommended a complete auditory monitoring for these patients ( 22 ).…”