1. l-Thyroxine does not prevent immunemediated sensorineural hearing loss in autoimmune thyroid diseases.
- Author
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Rodríguez-Valiente A, Álvarez-Montero Ó, Górriz-Gil C, and García-Berrocal JR
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Antibody Specificity, Autoantibodies immunology, Autoantigens immunology, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes immunology, Ear, Inner immunology, Female, Hashimoto Disease complications, Hashimoto Disease drug therapy, Hashimoto Disease immunology, Hearing Loss, Bilateral etiology, Hearing Loss, Bilateral immunology, Hearing Loss, Bilateral prevention & control, Hearing Loss, Sensorineural immunology, Hearing Loss, Sensorineural prevention & control, Hearing Loss, Unilateral etiology, Hearing Loss, Unilateral immunology, Hearing Loss, Unilateral prevention & control, Humans, Methylprednisolone therapeutic use, Middle Aged, Sulfate Transporters immunology, T-Lymphocyte Subsets immunology, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory immunology, Thyroiditis, Autoimmune drug therapy, Hearing Loss, Sensorineural etiology, Thyroiditis, Autoimmune complications, Thyroxine therapeutic use
- Abstract
Objective: This is the first report dealing with immune-mediated inner ear disease (IMIED) hearing loss in a group of patients affected with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), whose treatment required corticosteroids, despite being treated with levothyroxine. Immunopathology linking the inner ear and the thyroid gland is also presented., Patients: A total of 220 patients were selected with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) of causes other than presbycusis. Audiometry was performed and pure tone average was calculated before and after treatment with corticosteroids., Results: Eighty-four (84) patients had SNHL of autoimmune origin, and 15 patients were diagnosed with AITD (Hashimoto's disease). Bilateral hearing loss was observed in 10 patients (66.5%). Sudden sensorineural hearing loss was the most frequent clinical form of presentation. Nine patients showed a hearing recovery greater than 10dB after corticosteroid treatment., Conclusions: Acquired hypothyroidism is thought to affect hearing due to different mechanisms. Although specific hormonal therapy may improve peripheral or central auditory disorders associated with hypothyroidism, the presence of IMIED in AITD patients requires another approach. Altered immune regulatory mechanisms involving Treg cells and CD4+CD45RO cells have been suggested in patients with AITD and IMIED. In the present study, although all the patients with hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism were being treated with levothyroxine, immune-mediated hearing loss was observed. Therapy with corticosteroids could achieve hearing recovery. Since inner ear and thyroid gland share possible antigen targets, we highlight the existence of IMIED in AITD patients and the importance of implementing appropriate therapy with corticosteroids., (Copyright © 2018 Sociedad Española de Otorrinolaringología y Cirugía de Cabeza y Cuello. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2019
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