Cochlear Dysfunction Is Common in Both Segmental and Nonsegmental Vitiligo

Regardless of disease type or duration, lesion site, and — in patients with facial involvement — side of the face affected

Melanocytes, the cells targeted in vitiligo skin lesions, are also necessary for normal functioning of the cochlea and other organs of the inner ear. Recent studies have demonstrated that up to 19% of vitiligo patients have sensorineural hearing loss. Moreover, vitiligo patients with normal audiograms may have subclinical cochlear pathology measurable on otoacoustic-emissions testing. Vitiligo is clinically classified into segmental (SV) and nonsegmental (NSV) types. In a recent study conducted in Egypt, investigators assessed whether there was a correlation between vitiligo type and cochlear dysfunction in 53 vitiligo patients aged 9 to 45; 25 patients had SV (20 facial, 5 nonfacial), and 28 had NSV (19 facial, 9 nonfacial).

Serving as cont…

Reviewing Author

Mary Wu Chang, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Pierre Fabre; Valeant

Speaker’s bureauPierre Fabre

Mary Wu Chang, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Pierre Fabre; Valeant

Speaker’s bureauPierre Fabre

Cochlear Dysfunction Is Common in Both Segmental and Nonsegmental Vitiligo

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Reviewing Author