Hearing loss and infection with the human immunodeficiency syndrome virus.Study of 30 patients

Objective. To asses hearing loss in patients infected with the human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) and its relationship with clinical stage (fulfillmen t of diagnostic criteria for human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/AIDS) and degree of lymphocyte depletion (number of CD4+ lymphocytes). Methods. Assessment of thirty consecutive HIV-infected patients regarding t he presence of subjective hearing loss, pure-tone audiometry, brain stem au ditory evoked potentials (BAEP); and number of CD4+ lymphocytes and treatme nt with antiretroviral drugs. Results. Forty percent of patients reported hearing loss; 33% had an abnorm al audiometry and BAEPs were abnormal in 56% of patients. The most common f indings included high-frequency sensorineural loss and an increase in the w ave III latency and interaural I-V difference. Sujective hearing loss and a n abnormal audiometry were both related to the administration of antiretrov iral drugs, whereas abnormal BAEPs were related to AIDS and low CD4+ lympho cyte counts. Conclusions. In HIV infected patients, an abnormal BAEP is the most common audiologic disorder, particularly in the advanced stages of the disease.