Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Lupus Erythematosus Associated with Antiphospholipid Syndrome: Case Report and Review

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a disease of unknown cause that manifests with tissue and cellular alterations due to the deposition of antibodies and pathogenic immune complexes. The disease can be associated with anticardiolipin antibody syndrome, a disorder of recurrent vascular thrombosis and thrombocytopenia associated with a persistent anticardiolipin test positivity. In this report, we describe the case of a young woman affected by lupus erythematosus and positive for anticardiolipin antibodies who was brought to our observation for a sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear. The patient was successfully treated with osmotic therapy and, 13 months after the initial symptom, is now in good clinical condition with no recurrence of the hearing loss and normal bilateral hearing. Together with a critical review of the pertinent literature, this rare clinical case led us to formulate some original comments.