難聴を合併したMPO-ANCA関連血管炎患者の3D-FLAIR MR画像評価

Abstract

Patients with MPO-ANCA related angitis sometimes experience the onset of sonsorineural hearing loss and facial palsy. The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the inflammation in the inner ear and sensorineural hearing loss, or between the inflammation of the facial nerve and facial nerve palsy in patients with MPO-ANCA related angitis. From 2007 to 2011, the inner ear was evaluated in 16 ears from 8 patients with MPO-ANCA related angitis with 3D-FLAIR MRI. In 12 ears of the 16 ears the onset of sensorineural hearing loss was noted, and the signal intensity ratio (SIR) in the cochlea was 0.62 +/- 0.15 on pre-enhancement 3D-FLAIR MRI, and 0.97 +/- 0.5 on post-enhancement. These SIR values were significantly higher than the SIR of non-sensorineural hearing loss patients. The onset of facial palsy was noted in 9 of 16 sides and the facial nerve SIR was 0.83 +/- 0.23 on post-contrast 3D-FLAIR MRI. The SIR in the facial nerve of facial nerve palsy patients was higher than non-facial palsy patients. The conclusion is that sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy in patients with MPO-ANCA related angitis occurred due to strong inflammation in the cochlea or facial nerve. 3D-FLAIR MRI made this pathology clear.