Auditory and vestibular dysfunctions in systemic sclerosis: literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of auditory and vestibular dysfunction in individuals with systemic sclerosis (SS) and the hypotheses to explain these changes.


METHODS
We performed a systematic review without meta-analysis from PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, SciELO and SCOPUS databases, using a combination of keywords "systemic sclerosis AND balance OR vestibular" and "systemic sclerosis AND hearing OR auditory."


METHODS
We included articles published in Portuguese, Spanish, or English until December 2011 and reviews, letters, and editorials were excluded. We found 254 articles, out of which 10 were selected.


METHODS
The study design was described, and the characteristics and frequency of the auditory and vestibular dysfunctions in these individuals were listed. Afterwards, we investigated the hypothesis built by the authors to explain the auditory and vestibular dysfunctions in SS.


RESULTS
Hearing loss was the most common finding, with prevalence ranging from 20 to 77%, being bilateral sensorineural the most frequent type. It is hypothesized that the hearing impairment in SS is due to vascular changes in the cochlea. The prevalence of vestibular disorders ranged from 11 to 63%, and the most frequent findings were changes in caloric testing, positional nystagmus, impaired oculocephalic response, changes in clinical tests of sensory interaction, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.


CONCLUSIONS
High prevalence of auditory and vestibular dysfunctions in patients with SS was observed. Conducting further research can assist in early identification of these abnormalities, provide resources for professionals who work with these patients, and contribute to improving the quality of life of these individuals.
aff01.
Maysa Bastos
MB
Rabelo
Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Department, Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Ana Paula
AP
Corona
D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology