INNER-EAR INVOLVEMENT IN MIXED CRYOGLOBULINEMIA PATIENTS

In order to evaluate the nature and prevalence of audiovestibular dist urbances in mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC)! 32 consecutive MC patients w ere studied by a wide audiological and vestibular examination. Pure to ne audiometry, impedance audiometry, brainstem response audiometry and vestibular function were performed. Patients with a previous history of ear damage due to other well-known agents were excluded from the st udy. In MC patients we found a rather frequent audiovestibular involve ment (34.3%). Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was found in seven MC patients (23%) and altered vestibular function test values in other seven subjects (22%). Moreover, anamnestic and clinical data revealed a high incidence of benign positional paroxysmal vertigo in our MC se ries. We can suppose that immune complex-mediated microvascular involv ement of the labyrinthine vessels may be responsible for inner ear dam age in MC. Thus, audiovestibular disturbances may be included among va rious organ involvement of the MC.