Hearing What There Is to Say About Scleroderma and the Ear

Disordered hearing and balance can occur in patients with scleroderma.

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that targets fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Cutaneous manifestations, such as sclerodactyly, matlike telangiectasias, and Raynaud phenomenon, are among the most prominent features of anticentromere-antibody–positive scleroderma, but extracutaneous manifestations can include audiovestibular dysfunction. Investigators looked for hearing and balance disorders in 35 patients with anticentromere-antibody–positive scleroderma (33 women; mean age, 65) and 59 matched control subjects.

Audiograms were abnormal in 27 patients with scleroderma (77%) but in only 15 (26%) controls (P<0.001). Hearing loss was sensorineural in 24 of the 27 affected individuals and bilateral in most; 20% of patients also had evidence…

Reviewing Author

Craig A. Elmets, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals

EquityVaxin

Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.

Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)