Auditory abnormalities associated with unilateral renal agenesis

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between unilateral renal agenesis a nd auditory abnormality, and to determine the clinical spectrum of hearing impairment in such patients. Methods: Seventy-five children with unilateral renal agenesis underwent auditory examinations. The subjects comprised 35 males and 40 females. Fourteen females had mullerian abnormalities, Another 75 schoolchildren with the same gender profile were selected for audiometr ic testing as a control group. Children with sonographically evident urogen ital system abnormalities were excluded from the control group. Results: Th e prevalence of auditory abnormalities in children with unilateral renal ag enesis (4/75) (5.3%) was higher than in the control group (0%). The prevale nce in children with urogenital anomalies was significantly higher in patie nts with renal agenesis than in the normal population (28.5%). Audiometric results showed that four of the 75 children manifested ipsilateral sensorin eural hearing impairment, particularly in the high-frequency range. All wer e females with coexisting genital abnormalities. Two were diagnosed with mi ld sensorineural hearing impairment while the other two had moderate hearin g loss. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that neurosensory hea ring loss was found to be associated with renal agenesis. Further audiometr ic follow-up of children with renal agenesis seems worthwhile. (C) 2001 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.