Research Information System
5th Congress of European ORL-Head & Neck Surgery, Brussels, Belgium, 29 June - 03 July 2019, pp.1
Introduction: The aim of this study was to
evaluate the auditory and cochlear functions of alopecia areata (AA) in
pediatric patients, which is an immune-mediated disease that occurs as a hair
loss.
Material & Methods: Patients aged between 5 and 17 years with AA at
least 6 months were included in the study. In both groups, the mean values of
pure tone audiogram (PTA) hearing thresholds and otoacoustic emission (OAE)
measurements after otoscopic examination were compared. Otoacoustic emissions
of the distortion product (DPOAE) 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 kHz frequencies were
recorded.
Results: The study included 54 volunteer children that were 22 healthy
volunteer children and 32 with complaints of AA. When hearing averages and
threshold values with PTA and OAE were examined, no hearing loss was observed
in the speech frequencies (500-2000) in both groups (0%). In the 1st group mild
hearing loss at PTA and OAE in 6 patients (20-40 db), and in high frequencies
in both ears (8000-12000) in 2 patients (25%). In 24 patients, hearing loss
were not observed in PTA and OAE (75%). In the second group, high frequency
thresholds of PTA and OAE were observed normal (0%) (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: It has been claimed that follicular melanocytes may be an
important target in the autoimmune process of alopecia areata in current
studies in the literature. AA can affect the hearing function by affecting the
melanocytes in the inner ear. Therefore, the relationship between sensorineural
hearing loss and an autoimmune disease, alopecia areata, can be established.