title: Sensorineural hearing loss in very low birth weight infants with histological chorioamnionitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Histological chorioamnionitis (HCAM) has been associated with inflammatory diseases of preterm infants. Recently we have observed that it increased the risk of speech delay and hearing loss. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) of VLBW infants and HCAM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an observational study on VLBW infants admitted to the NICU of Padua. Each patient with HCAM was matched with one control without HCAM. All infants underwent hearing screening before discharge by means of automated transient-evoked otoacustic emissions and automated auditory brainstem responses, which were repeated at 3 and 6 months of age with tympanometry measurement. Incidence of SNHL at 6 months of age was compared in the 2 groups and risk factors for hearing loss were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two of 77 (2.6%) newborns with HCAM e 6/73 (8.2%) without it presented SNHL at 6 months of corrected age (p = 0.16). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) as independent predictors of SNHL (OR: 5.75, 95% CI 1.34-24.84, p = 0.02), whereas the effect of HCAM on SNHL was only near to statistical significance level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical ligation of PDA is associated with an increased risk of SNHL in VLBW infants, regardless of HCAM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza , Italy .
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vedovato
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Iacono
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morando
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suppiej
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orzan
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trevisanuto
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visentin
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavallin
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zanardo
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Chorioamnionitis; hearing screening; preterm infants