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The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology
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Effect of vitiligo on the cochlea

The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology volume 35, pages 6–11 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Vitiligo is the disappearance of functional melanocytes (MCs) from the involved skin by a mechanism(s) that has not yet been identified.

Objective

The aim was to study the effects of different types of vitiligo on cochlear function.

Patients and Methods

This study involved 30 vitiligo patients who constituted the study group and 30 matched healthy individuals who served as the control group. Cochlear function was studied using pure-tone audiometry and transient-evoked otoacoustic emission.

Results

Normal pure-tone thresholds were found in vitiligo patients with no statistically significant difference between the control and vitiligo groups on both ears. There was a statistically significant difference between control and vitiligo groups as regards the signal-to-noise ratio at a frequency band of 4 kHz on both ears. Cochlear function is affected equally in both generalized and localized vitiligo subgroups. The duration of vitiligo does not have an effect on cochlear function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Audiovestibular Unit, ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Abd Elatif ElGohary, Reda Mohamed Abd Alwahab Behairy (MD in Audiovestibular Medicine, Lecturer of Audiovestibular Unit) & Amal Mahmoud Awida

Authors
  1. Mohamed Abd Elatif ElGohary
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  2. Reda Mohamed Abd Alwahab Behairy
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  3. Amal Mahmoud Awida
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Correspondence to Reda Mohamed Abd Alwahab Behairy.

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ElGohary, M.A.E., Behairy, R.M.A.A. & Awida, A.M. Effect of vitiligo on the cochlea. Egypt J Otolaryngol 35, 6–11 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejo.ejo_49_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejo.ejo_49_18

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