Pseudoexfoliation and sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Aims There is increasing evidence that pseudoexfoliation (PXF) not only affects ocular anterior segment structures, but may also be a systemic disease. This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between PXF and sensorineural hearing loss. Methods Patients with PXF were identified from hospital records and underwent complete ocular examination. The sum of pure-tone hearing thresholds measured at 1, 2 and 3 kHz (HTL 1,2,3 ) in each ear was compared with the ISO 7029 standard sexmatched, median age-associated hearing loss summed over the same frequencies (AAHL 1,2,3 ). The proportion of ears with thresholds higher than the ISO 7029 median AAHL 1,2,3 on the same side as eyes without PXF was compared with the proportion of ears ipsilateral to eyes with PXF but without glaucoma and similarly the proportion of ears on the same side as eyes with PXF and glaucoma. Results In total, 69 patients were studied, of whom 39 were male (56.5%). The mean age of the male patients was 75.8 years, while that of the female group was 75.1 years. All patients had PXF affecting at least one eye. Overall 101 ears (73.7%) had a higher HTL 1,2,3 than the ISO 7029 median AAHL 1,2,3 which included 56 ears of 78 in the male group (71.8%) and 45 ears of 59 in the female group (76.3%). There was no significant difference between the proportion of ears with HTL 1,2,3 higher than the ISO 7029 median AAHL 1,2,3 on the same side as eyes without PXF, with PXF but not glaucoma and with PXF and glaucoma, in either the male or female groups. Conclusions A large proportion of patients with PXF have sensorineural hearing loss in comparison to age-matched controls, regardless of whether or not there is associated glaucoma. This finding supports the theory that PXF may be a systemic condition.Eye (2002) 16, 261-266.

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome prevalence in Greek patients with cataract and its association to glaucoma and coronary artery disease

“…An overexpression of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a disbalance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)/tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMPs), and increased cellular and oxidative stress, describe a part of the pathological process that is characterized by an elastic microfibrillopathy. [5][6][7][8][9] Although there is no clear-cut evidence that the deposits would cause degeneration of the extraocular tissues, they have been associated with transient ischaemic attacks, 10 Alzheimer's disease, 11 asymptomatic myocardial dysfunction, 12 sensorineural hearing loss, 13 stroke, myocardial infarction, systemic hypertension, 14 and aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. 15 The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PEX syndrome in a Greek cataract population and its relation to glaucoma and coronary artery disease (CAD).…”

Evaluating the Hearing of Patients with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

“…The current study also included objective methods of audiological diagnostics to evaluate most of the auditory pathway. Studies by Yazdani et al, Cahill et al, Shaban and Asfour, and Turacli et al found an increased prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in pure-tone audiometry at frequencies important for speech (1, 2, 3 kHz) in patients with PEX in comparison to patients without PEX in groups that were homologous in terms of age and sex [3,[18][19][20].…”

Renal artery stenosis and abdominal aorta aneurysm in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome

“…4 It is thought to have a role in many systemic vascular disorders such as systemic hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, abdominal aorta aneurysm, transient ischemic attack and cerebrovascular events, peripheral vascular diseases, Alzheimer disease, and sensory-neural hearing loss. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In PEX, ocular complications are well documented but the clinical importance of systemic manifestations is unknown.…”