Is preeclampsia a new risk factor for cochlear damage and hearing loss?
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether preeclampsia is a risk factor for cochlear damage and permanent hearing loss.


METHODS
Prospective case-control study design.


METHODS
Academic tertiary medical center.


METHODS
Subjects included 40 patients with preeclampsia and 30 healthy pregnant women.


METHODS
Otoscopic examinations and pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), and stapedial reflex tests were conducted for all subjects. Negative audiologic tests were reevaluated after the postpartum period. Statistical analyses were performed using χ and binary logistic regression testing.


METHODS
We searched for signs of middle ear ventilation, damage of cochlea, and sensorineural hearing loss.


RESULTS
Eight patients from the preeclampsia group had 1 or more otological problems. Two patients from the control group were determined as having otological problems. Otoacoustic emissions of the right and left ears (p = 0.029, p = 0.044), hearing levels of right and left ear bone conduction (BC) at the 500-Hz frequency (right and left-BC 500), and left ear at the 2,000-Hz frequency (left-BC 2000) differed significantly between the preeclampsia and control groups (p = 0.040, p = 0.003, and p = 0.003). There was no significant difference in the OAEs between the right and left ears in the preeclampsia group (p < 0.05). The variables BC 500-left, BC 500-right, OAE-right, and OAE-left differed significantly between groups based on binary logistic testing. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for these 4 risk variables were as follows: BC 500-left, 1.167 (1.044-1.306); BC 500-right, 1.117 (1.002-1.244); OAE-right, 0.642 (0.505-0.815); and OAE-left, 0.576 (0.475-0.698), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Preeclampsia is a risk factor for cochlear damage and permanent hearing loss. Even if preeclampsia resolves after delivery, cochlear damage and permanent hearing loss remain unchanged in patients with preeclampsia.
Baylan
Muzeyyen Yildirim
MY
Department of Otolaryngology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey. muzeyyenyldrm@hotmail.com
Kuyumcuoglu
Umur
U
Kale
Ahmet
A
Celik
Yusuf
Y
Topcu
Ismail
I
D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D017084:Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous; D038781:Otoscopy; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors