Meniere's disease triggered by alopecia areata

Abstract

A 38-year-old female presented to the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of Cumhuriyet University Hospital with recurrent fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss, aural pressure, episodic vertigo and tinnitus with duration of 4 years. Personal history revealed that an attack of Meniere's disease occurred 3-4 weeks later from an alopecia lesion emerged. She told that it was fourth sequential episodes of two diseases that she was experiencing within the last four years. Ear, nose and throat examination was normal. Pure tone audiometry showed sensorineural low frequency hearing loss (LFHL). The level of hearing loss was assessed by four frequency pure-tone averages (PTA) ranging from 500 to 3000 Hz. Speech discrimination scores were normal left ear, but right ear that was decreased (% 80). The clinical findings were consistent with the diagnosis of Meniere’s disease. In dermatologic examination there was an alopecia areata lesion in 3 cm diameter on the parietal region of the head (Figure 1). This patient's alopecia areata lesion was seen the last five years. Ig E levels of the subjects were normal, and there was no personal and family history of atopic or allergic diseases.