Article
Hearing loss in patients who suffer from Systemic sclerosis
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Published: | April 24, 2007 |
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Outline
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Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease characterized by widespread small vessel obliterative disease and fibrosis of the skin and multiple internal organs.
The aim of our study was to examine the patients who suffer from this autoimmune disease and to assess whether their primary disease has damaged their inner ear.
Method: We examined 50 patients who suffer from Systemic sclerosis in the University Clinic of Otolaryngology Nis, Serbia. We used audiometry and tympanometry to assess their hearing. We also collected all laboratoric data from these patients.
Results: In the examined group of 50 patients who suffer from systemic sclerosis in 13 patients we noticed sensorineural hearing loss, in 18 patients tinnitus which was moderate in 8 patients and severe in 10 patients. All patients were female, with a range of 48 to 74 years.
Conclusion: Our results concur with others in showing sensorineural hearing loss in patients who suffer from systemic sclerosis. The real benefit of testing hearing levels in these patients is to point out that hearing loss is possible in this disease and that proper and immediate treatment should be done.