Recovery from Repeated Sudden Hearing Loss in a Patient with Takayasu’s Arteritis Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: The First Report in the Literature

Abstract

Hearing loss has been rarely reported in Takayasu's arteritis, may present as Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, and usually responds well to corticosteroid therapy. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is commonly used as a supplementary treatment to corticosteroids for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman with Takayasu's arteritis who had two episodes of sudden hearing loss involving one ear at a time with an 11-month delay between each episode. During the first episode, the patient was treated with high-dose intramuscular corticosteroids with a temporary improvement of auditory threshold that deteriorated 14 days after cessation of therapy. In the second episode, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy was associated with corticosteroids, with improvements in both ears, including the one that was unresponsive in the long term to previous pharmacologic therapy. In this case, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy could have acted synergically with corticosteroids playing a role in hearing restoration.

Audiovestibular Symptoms in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

“…A good response to corticosteroid therapy has been reported for SNHL in TA, although it may also persist despite therapy [ 80 ]. Recently, Ralli et al described a case of a 36-year-old woman with TA who had two episodes of SSNHL involving one ear at a time with an 11-month delay between each episode of treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy associated to corticosteroids, with significant improvements in both ears [ 85 , 86 ].…”

Optimal management of Cogan’s syndrome: a multidisciplinary approach

“…However, unlike CS, Takayasu’s arteritis does not involve the eyes. 49 , 51 Rheumatoid factor, anti-nuclear, and anti-endothelial antibodies have also been reported in some patients with CS, further supporting the autoimmune origin theory. 3 …”

“…Differential diagnoses to consider are Takayasu’s arteritis, 49 , 50 polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener’s granulomatosis, giant cell arteritis, and rheumatic arthritis. 6 It is particularly difficult to distinguish between Takayasu’s arteritis and the vasculitis of CS because they both involve medium and – mainly – large vessels.…”

Hyperacusis in Children: A Preliminary Study on the Effects of Hypersensitivity to Sound on Speech and Language

“…Available evidence suggests that hyperacusis may follow functional changes within the central nervous system and may be related to increased gain in the central auditory pathways and to increased anxiety or emotional response to sound 5 . Hyperacusis has been reported in some systemic conditions and syndromes [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] , although most cases of hyperacusis have unknown cause 19,20 .…”