Effect of Vitiligo on Auditory Functions: Is There Any Association?

Abstract Introduction  Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of unknown etiology, clinically characterized by whitish macules caused by selective loss of melanocytes. There are many melanocytes in the human cochlea. Recent studies have suggested a direct relation between cochlear dysfunction a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology 2021-04, Vol.25 (2), p.e200-e204
Main Authors: Singh, Vishal, Guleria, Trilok C., Azad, Ramesh K., Mohindroo, Narender K., Sharma, Devraj
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
audiometric
auditory defect
nonsegmental
Original Research
OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY
stria vascularis
vitiligo
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Introduction  Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of unknown etiology, clinically characterized by whitish macules caused by selective loss of melanocytes. There are many melanocytes in the human cochlea. Recent studies have suggested a direct relation between cochlear dysfunction and decreased amounts of melanin. Objective  To determine the effect of vitiligo on auditory function. Methods  The present prospective, case control study was performed over a period of 1 year in patients between 15 and 40 years old with nonsegmental disease and the same number of controls. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) and Otoacoustic emission (OAE) were performed to analyze the correlation between vitiligo and auditory function. Results  The mean pure tone audiometric threshold in the right ear at 0.5, 8 kHz, and in the left ear at the frequency of 8 kHz in the case group were significantly higher as compared with controls. The average band reproducibility (%) in the right and left ear of controls was significantly higher at the frequency of 4 kHz as compared with cases. It has been observed that signal to noise ratio was statistically higher at the frequency of 5kHz in the right ear and at 2, 3, and 5kHz in the left ear in controls as compared with cases. On the basis of disease type and duration of disease; mean pure tone audiometric threshold, average band reproducibility and signal to noise ratio, no significant effect was observed in the present study. Conclusion  Vitiligo has an effect on cochlear function irrespective of the duration or distribution of the disease.
ISSN:1809-9777
1809-4864
1809-4864
DOI:10.1055/s-0040-1709197