Audio-vestibular disturbance in patients with Behçet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
The present study prospectively investigated the frequencies and characteristics of audio-vestibular disturbance and the results of audiologic and vestibular function tests in patients with Behçet's disease.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
Seventeen patients with Behçet's disease (mean age 41.2 [30-56] years, 5 males and 12 females), as well as age- and sex-matched healthy controls, were included in this study. All subjects satisfied the diagnostic criteria of the International Study Group for Behçet's Disease. Information on the subjects was obtained through questionnaires. Tests, including those for hearing impairment, tinnitus, ear fullness, and dizziness, pure-tone audiometry, and vestibular function, were performed.


RESULTS
Auditory symptoms were reported by 7 (41.2%) and dizziness by 14 (82.4%) of the subjects. Sensorineural hearing loss was present in four (23.5%) subjects. One was treated with a cochlear implantation because of bilateral sudden deafness. Spontaneous nystagmus was detected in two (11.8%) subjects. Abnormal findings were noted in 1 (5.9%) in saccadic movement, 5 (29.4%) in the bithermal caloric tests, and 10 (58.9%) in the rotation chair tests. In total, audiologic or vestibular disturbance were noted in 16 (94.1%) of the subjects. However, audio-vestibular abnormalities were not noted in the healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Audio-vestibular disturbance is not rare in Behçet's disease patients compared with healthy controls. We believe that audio-vestibular assessment and management may be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with Behçet's disease.
Choung
Yun-Hoon
YH
Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Cho
Min Jung
MJ
Park
Keehyun
K
Choi
Seong Jun
SJ
Shin
You Ree
YR
Lee
Eun-So
ES
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D002150:Caloric Tests; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests