[Hearing loss associated to ulcerative colitis].
OBJECTIVE
To value the eventual immunomediation in sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) on patients bearing of ulcerative colitis (UC).


METHODS
In a group of forty-nine cases with a mean age of 41.6+/-9.3 years old we studied the hearing loss level, the disease activity index, the peripheral blood inflammation markers and the anticochlear antibodies by mean of Western-blot technique (WB).


RESULTS
The 26.5% knew about their deafness, although SHL was detected in 59.1% of cases. The mean age of onset was 40.3+/-9.8 years. 48.9% showed a positive WB, always in 68-70 kDa molecular weight blots. Moreover, patients with positive WB showed more severe deafness, higher disease activity and more altered parameters, especially erythrosedimentation rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Audiologic and peripheral blood findings observed allow us to establish a reasonable suspicion of an autoimmune or immunomediated pathway of hearing loss on UC.
García Callejo
F J
FJ
Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia. jgarciacall@hotmail.com
Laporta Marín
P
P
Velert Vila
M M
MM
Orts Alborch
M H
MH
de Paula Vernetta
C
C
Marco Algarra
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M