Ankylosing Spondylitis and dizziness/hearing

Timothy C. Hain, MD •Page last modified: July 31, 2022

See also: aied• anti-gq1b• AS• behcets_disease• coganpatient• sympathetic• pandas

Ankylosing Spondylitis(AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting up to 1% of the population. It is a progressive bone disease associated with fusion of the spine. Persons with severe cases of AS may be disabled because of their lack of flexibility. There are occasionally patients who have both AS and hearing symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms:

There is a modest literature concerning impaired cochleovestibular (hearing/balance) function in AS. There is increased risk of hearing loss, both conductive and sensorineural (Alatas et al, 2005; Yan et al. 2021; Ajmani et al. 2019). The conductive component may be due to arthritis of the ossicular chain (Magaro, Ceresia, and Frustaci 1984). The sensorineural component is not well characterized.

Diagnosis

Regarding the effect of treatment, there are mainly case reports involving use of immune suppressant drugs (Niwano, Tokura, and Nagasaka 2020; Toktas et al. 2014). One report suggested that sulphasalazine caused hearing loss (Savastano et al. 2005).

Treatment:

Regarding the effect of treatment, there are mainly case reports (Niwano, Tokura, and Nagasaka 2020; Toktas et al. 2014). One report suggested that sulphasalazine caused hearing loss (Savastano et al. 2005).

See also: Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease

References: