Abstract
ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to evaluate the auditory and vestibular function in vitiligo patients.BackgroundVitiligo is a systemic disease affecting pigmented cells throughout the body. Some evidence suggests the involvement of melanocytes in the auditory system in the disease process.Patients and methodsA total of 63 patients with vitiligo and 63 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Pure tone audiometry, cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential, and videonystagmography were carried out in all participants.ResultsSixteen cases (25.4%) of the vitiligo patients had vestibular symptoms. Vitiligo patients showed poorer hearing threshold at high frequencies. Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential showed a highly significant difference between cases and controls (P < 0.001). In videonystagmography test, smooth pursuit test did not show any significant difference between cases and controls (P > 0.05). Catch up saccades were detected only in 4 cases (6.3%), spontaneous nystagmus without fixation was detected in only 8 cases (12.7%) with a significant difference (P value = 0.006), and caloric test showed a significant difference between cases and controls (P = 0.004).ConclusionThis study highlights the involvement of the audio-vestibular system in vitiligo patients, suggesting that vitiligo is a systemic disease rather than a purely cutaneous problem.
Published Version
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