Sensorineural hearing loss as a common manifestation in patients with mixed connective tissue disease

Abstract

Evaluation of: Hajas A, Szodoray P, Barath S et al.: Sensorineural hearing loss in patients with mixed connective tissue disease: immunological markers and cytokine levels. J. Rheumatol. 36, 1930–1936 (2009). In this study, Hajas et al. examined the prevalence of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with mixed connective tissue disease and its underlying mechanisms by measuring a series of immunological markers. Sensorineural hearing loss is a frequent organ manifestation affecting nearly half of patients with mixed connective tissue disease. Raynaud’s phenomenon, antiphospholipid and antiendothelial cell antibodies, increased serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and a reduced number of regulatory T cells were found to be associated with sensorineural hearing loss in mixed connective tissue disease patients.