Bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss as a presenting feature of systemic lupus erythematosus: Case report and brief review of other published cases.
BACKGROUND
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is an unusual presenting clinical feature of systemic lupus erythematosus.


METHODS
We report the case of a young woman who was admitted to hospital for sudden sensorineural hearing loss and hemophagocytic syndrome which was attributed to systemic lupus erythematosus on the basis of specific renal involvement, thrombocytopenia, and consistent autoantibodies. Favorable outcome was obtained on high-dose corticosteroids, and the hearing fully recovered.


CONCLUSIONS
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss in systemic lupus erythematosus is seemingly more frequently associated with severe systemic involvement and antiphospholipid antibodies may be present. Although management remains empirical, the high risk of permanent hearing impairment seems to justify emergency treatment with high-dose corticosteroids. When the clinical and laboratory criteria of antiphospholipid syndrome are met, antiplatelets agents or anticoagulation therapy shall be considered.
Service de Médecine Interne, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, APHP, Boulogne Billancourt Université de Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines, UVSQ, Versailles Service de Néphrologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, APHP, Créteil Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR_S 1136 INSERM, UMR_S 1136, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, France.
Sylvain
S
Chawki
Jessie
J
Aouizerate
Selim
S
Trad
Jacques
J
Prinseau
Thomas
T
Hanslik
D005260:Female; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000209:etiology; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult