title: Audio-vestibular function in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients in India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic shows no signs of abating, the impact of AIDS is felt more in the developing countries due to socioeconomic reasons. The possibility of drug-induced ototoxicity also adds to the risk of audio vestibular dysfunction. We sought to determine if there was a difference between the audio-vestibular function in the asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients and patients with AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, cross-sectional study
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary care center in South India
  
  
  METHODS
  The audio-vestibular system of 30 asymptomatic HIV positive subjects (group 1) and 30 subjects with AIDS (group 2), and age-matched 30 healthy controls (group 3) were assessed using pure tone audiometry and cold caloric test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients each, in group 1 and group 2 and four subjects in the control group were detected to have a hearing loss indicating significantly more HIV infected individuals (group 1 and 2) were having hearing loss (P=0.001). Kobrak's (modified) test showed 27% of patients in group 1 and 33% of patients in group 2 and none in the group 3 had a hypofunctioning labyrinth (P=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that the human immunodeficiency virus does affect the audio-vestibular pathway. There was a significant incidence of audio-vestibular dysfunction among the HIV infected patients, as compared to the control population (P=0.001) and no significant difference between the asymptomatic HIV seropositive patients and AIDS patients. Majority of the patients had no otological symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: Suma Susan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Rita Ruby
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Job