COGAN'S SYNDROME: SUCCESS OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY

Abstract

Cogan's syndrome is a rare disease from a group of systemic vasculitides with variable vascular involvement. It is a concurrence of ophthalmic symptoms and audiovestibular disorders (Meniere's disease and sensorineural hearing loss). There is often fever, arthralgia or arthritis; neurological disorders and aortitis with the development of aortic aneurysms are encountered. Hearing loss is frequently irreversible. Changes in the organ of vision usually occur favorably. The paper describes a case of Cogan's syndrome in a 33-year-old patient. The disease is manifested by papilledema, conjunctivitis, acute sensorineural deafness with rapid loss of hearing, and microfocal changes in the brain, as detected by computed tomography. Pulse therapy with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide led to a rapid and obvious regression of all symptoms. The case is of interest due to the rare occurrence of the disease and to the success of performed therapy. The description stresses the importance of a rheumatologist's consultation and the need for the collective management of young patients with clinical presentations of acute sensorineural hearing loss.