title: Mild and variable audiometric and vestibular features in a third DFNA15 family with a novel mutation in POU4F3.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cochleovestibular characteristics were investigated in a Dutch DFNA15 family with a novel POU4F3 mutation, L223P.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 4-generation pedigree was constructed of the Dutch family with the novel L223P POU4F3 mutation. Pure tone audiometric data were collected and analyzed cross-sectionally in mutation carriers. Age-related typical audiograms were derived. Vestibular examination was performed in most of the mutation carriers. The results were compared to those obtained from previously identified 884de18 and L289F POU4F3 mutation carriers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A novel mutation (L223P) in POU4F3 segregated with hearing impairment in the present family. Audiometric analysis generally showed an early-adult to midlife onset of hearing impairment. High-frequency hearing impairment was observed most frequently. Age-related typical audiograms showed a down-sloping configuration at ages of more than 30 years, with the fastest rate of progression at the high frequencies. Vestibular function tests revealed hypofunction of the vestibular labyrinth in 2 mutation carriers (not statistically significant).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical features in the present family with a POU4F3 mutation were fairly similar to those in the 2 previously described DFNA15 families, but the level of hearing impairment was milder, and there was no substantial vestibular dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anne-Martine R
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Heer
authors.forename: Patrick L M
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Huygen
authors.forename: Rob W J
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Collin
authors.forename: Hannie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Cor W R J
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cremers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009426:Netherlands; D010375:Pedigree; D050821:Transcription Factor Brn-3C / Q000235:genetics*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C111223:POU4F3 protein, human; D050821:Transcription Factor Brn-3C