[P01.199] Sudden Onset Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis and Prognosis

Mark A. Hellmann, Ronit T. Mosberg-Galili, Petah Tiqwa, Israel, Israel Steiner

OBJECTIVE: To assess sudden onset hearing loss in Multiple Sclerosis patients. BACKGROUND: Cranial nerve palsies are uncommon in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Amongst them, sudden onset unilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been rarely reported. DESIGN/METHODS: Consecutive patients that attended the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Rabin Medical Center between January 2004 and July 2009 were reviewed for baseline neurological history, findings on neurological examination, and diagnosis. Patients with decreased hearing and an MRI that had typical MS lesions formed the study group. Particular attention was paid to onset of symptoms, progression and recovery. Hearing tests, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, MRI studies and blood results were recorded. RESULTS: Ten patients presented to our clinic with hearing loss and typical MS lesions. The average age at presentation was 36.1 years with a follow up of between one and five years. In seven patients, the hearing decline was the presenting symptom of MS. In all ten patients, it appeared early in the course of the disease and in most of the patients there were no accompanying symptoms. The prognosis was very good with no residual hearing deficit in nine of the ten patients. MRI performed close to the onset of symptoms revealed lesions within the auditory pathway of the brainstem in six patients while the other four only showed supra-tentorial lesions typical of MS. CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: Unilateral sensorineural hearing loss is an under-reported symptom in MS and clinicians should be alert that this may be the presenting symptom of this demyelinating disease.
Category - MS and Related Diseases - Clinical Science

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 7:30 AM

Poster Session I: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Diseases: Clinical Research (7:30 AM-12:00 PM)