SUDDEN COCHLEAR HEARING-LOSS IN A PATIENT WITH BEHCETS-DISEASE

A Behcet's disease patient developed sudden cochlear hearing loss duri ng a flare of her disease. Prednisone and cyclosporin therapy was inef fective, probably because it was initiated late. Sensorineural hearing loss is a rare but underrecognized complication of various forms of v asculitis such as Wegener's granulomatosis, polyarteritis nodosa, gian t cell arteritis and Behcet's disease. Its importance lies in the need for an early diagnosis, since prompt treatment with steroids and immu nosuppressive agents may lead to restoration of hearing.