AURAL SYMPTOMS AND HEARING-LOSS IN PATIENTS WITH LUPUS

OBJECTIVE: Systemic lupus erythematosus causes widespread tissue injur y from deposition of immune complexes, The prevalence of aural symptom s in this disease was evaluated. METHODS: The presence of tinnitus, he aring loss, and fluctuating hearing was evaluated by a self-directed q uestionnaire in patients aged 65 or less from a lupus clinic, Patients reporting aural symptoms were compared with those reporting none, by use of demographics and disease duration. Comparison was also made wit h historic serologic data. Audiometry was offered to all patients with lupus reporting aural symptoms and was completed in 10. RESULTS: Twen ty-six (31%) of 84 patients with lupus reported aural symptoms. Patien ts reported a combination of symptoms: unilateral hearing loss with or without tinnitus in 13 (15%) of 84 and bilateral hearing loss with or without tinnitus in 14 (17%) of 84. No statistical difference was mea sured between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients when compared by a verage age, duration of disease, history of noise exposure, head traum a, and infectious ear diseases. Statistically significant differences were detected only when comparing average creatinine and C3 levels. Of those patients tested by audiometry, 7 of 10 had abnormal pure-tone t hresholds. Asymmetric findings were present in 6 of these 7 patients t ested. CONCLUSION: Aural symptoms are prevalent among patients with lu pus, Asymmetric symptoms and hearing loss are most common. The cause m ay relate to immune-complex disease and/or vasculitis.