title: [Vestibular system in patients with systemic sclerosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In systemic sclerosis (SSc) there may occur hearing and balance disorders as a result of the immune-mediated inner ear damage, the etiology being vasculitis and fibrosis. The objective is the vestibular organ evaluation in patients with SSc regarding their prevalence and relationship to duration of the disease and Raynaud phenomenon and also to type and severity of SSc.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty unselected, consecutive patients with diagnosed SSc, complying with international diagnostic criteria of the American Rheumatism Association (1982), were enrolled into the study. The control group consisted of 26 otologically healthy persons matched to the SSc group for age and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all patients the questionnaire about audiovestibular history, otolaryngological examination, static and dynamic vestibular tests and the electronystsgmography (ENG) were performed. The patients were investigated with the electronystsgmography (ENG) for spontaneous, positional and caloric-induced nystagmus. Also visual ocular-motor tests were performer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the anamnesis 65% of patients reported vertigo, 55% - headaches, 50% - tinnitus, 40% - hyperacusis, 40% - hearing loss and 30% - ear fullness. Vertigo, dizziness balance disturbance and uncorrect results of Romberg and Utenberger tests were more frequent in patients with vestibular organ lesion. Abnormalities in vestibular organ in SSc patients were fund in 14 (70%) persons - the central type of lesion - 8 (40%), mixed type in 3 (15%) and peripheral in 3 (15%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ear involvement is frequent in systemic sclerosis and should be taken into consideration during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny nr 1 im. N. Barlickiego, I Katedra Otolaryngologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi. k.maciaszczyk@op.pl
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maciaszczyk
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durko
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waszczykowska
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bartkowiak-Dziankowska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pajor
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erkiert-Polguj
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Józefowicz-Korczyńska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004584:Electronystagmography; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*