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The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology
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Assessment of audiovestibular system in patients with vitiligo: a case–control study

The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology volume 34, pages 60–67 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Vitiligo is characterized by loss of epidermal melanocytes. Alterations in melanocytes in extracutaneous sites have been reported in vitiligo and sometimes implied for the inner ear along with an associated compromise in function.

Aim

The aim of this study was to map the auditory and vestibular functions in patients with vitiligo.

Materials and methods

A total of 30 patients with vitiligo vulgaris and 30 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Pure tone audiometry and measurements of auditory brainstem responses, cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP), and videonystagmography (VNG) were carried out in all participants.

Results

Mean hearing thresholds of patients with vitiligo were highly statistically significantly lowered at 4 and 8 kHz than the controls. Analysis of brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) revealed statistically significantly prolonged wave III, wave V, and interpeaks of I–III and I–V latencies in both ears of 18 (60%) patients and in the left ear of two (6.6%) patients in the vitiligo group than the controls. VNG findings showed canal paresis in nine (30%) patients. There was a negative statistically significant correlation between disease duration and pure tone audiometry, BAEP, and latency of N23 of cVEMP.

Conclusion

This study sheds light on the importance of melanocytes for proper functioning of the auditory and vestibular system. The presence of high-frequency hearing loss, BAEP abnormalities, and cVEMP changes are valuable findings in patients with vitiligo. This highlights the importance of follow-up along the disease course for early detection of auditory abnormality. cVEMP testing can be used for the evaluation of the vestibulocolic reflex in patients with vitiligo. Moreover, VNG testing can be an important tool for assessment of the vestibular system in patients with vitiligo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ear, Nose, Throat Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Yousef el Sabaee Street, 1st Settlement, New Cairo, Egypt

    Rabab Ahmed Koura (Lecturer of Audiovestibular Medicine) & Iman Mostafa Basiouny (Lecturer of Audiovestibular Medicine)

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Egypt

    Reham William Doss (Lecturer of Dermatology) & Alshimaa Mohamed Abbas Mostafa (Assisstant Lecturer of Dermatology)

  3. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Beni Suef University, Egypt

    Ahmed EmadEldin Arafa (Assistant Lecturer of Public Health)

Authors
  1. Rabab Ahmed Koura
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  2. Iman Mostafa Basiouny
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  3. Reham William Doss
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  4. Alshimaa Mohamed Abbas Mostafa
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  5. Ahmed EmadEldin Arafa
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Correspondence to Rabab Ahmed Koura.

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Koura, R.A., Basiouny, I.M., Doss, R.W. et al. Assessment of audiovestibular system in patients with vitiligo: a case–control study. Egypt J Otolaryngol 34, 60–67 (2018). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejo.ejo_77_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejo.ejo_77_17

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