title: Lyme disease associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss: case report and literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is sudden sensorineural hearing loss associated with Lyme disease in adults?
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case report and a systematic literature search in PubMed and Embase were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe a patient presenting with sudden sensorineural hearing loss, followed by a facial paralysis, which could be attributed to Lyme disease confirmed by positive serology and a positive immunoblot. She was successfully treated with ceftriaxone, with recovery of the facial paralysis, although no recovery of the hearing loss was observed. A systematic literature search resulted in 4 relevant and valid articles revealing that confirmed positive serology for Borrelia burgdorferi varies from 0% to 21.3%, suggesting active Lyme disease as a cause in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Two studies demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of confirmed positive serology for Borrelia burgdorferi as compared with the incidence in the general local population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Literature suggests that sudden sensorineural hearing loss may coincide with Borrelia burgdorferi infection. A higher incidence of confirmed positive serology for Borrelia burgdorferi in patients with sudden deafness seems to be depending on the country and on the tests used to confirm Lyme disease. This should be taken into account if serologic testing for Lyme disease in patients with sudden deafness is considered.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: Brigitta Y M
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: van der Kolk
authors.forename: Steven F T
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Thijsen
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Colnot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002443:Ceftriaxone