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Subject Area

Otorhinolaryngology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the auditory and vestibular function in vitiligo patients. Background Vitiligo is a systemic disease affecting pigmented cells throughout the body. Some evidence suggests the involvement of melanocytes in the auditory system in the disease process. Patients and methods A total of 63 patients with vitiligo and 63 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Pure tone audiometry, cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential, and videonystagmography were carried out in all participants. Results Sixteen cases (25.4%) of the vitiligo patients had vestibular symptoms. Vitiligo patients showed poorer hearing threshold at high frequencies. Cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential showed a highly significant difference between cases and controls (P < 0.001). In videonystagmography test, smooth pursuit test did not show any significant difference between cases and controls (P > 0.05). Catch up saccades were detected only in 4 cases (6.3%), spontaneous nystagmus without fixation was detected in only 8 cases (12.7%) with a significant difference (P value = 0.006), and caloric test showed a significant difference between cases and controls (P = 0.004). Conclusion This study highlights the involvement of the audio-vestibular system in vitiligo patients, suggesting that vitiligo is a systemic disease rather than a purely cutaneous problem.

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