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HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH ANTIBODY PRODUCTION AGAINST BORRELIA BURGDORFERI ANTIGEN

Hanner P, Rosenhall U, Edström S +1 more1989The LancetJournal Article
10.1016/s0140-6736(89)91673-5PubMed
Immune/InnateNeurologicalOcular
Lyme & Co-Infections

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which hearing disorders may be a result of tick-borne Borrelia burgdorferi infection. 98 patients with different patterns of hearing dysfunction were studied. The patients had a history of sudden hearing loss, disorders similar to Menière's disease, or hearing loss in combination with acute facial palsy or with vertigo. Serum antibodies against the B burgdorferi antigen were determined during the acute and convalescent periods. 17 patients (17%) showed serological evidence of borreliosis (reciprocal titre of 320 or above). All but 3 of these patients also had vertigo and 3 subjects had peripheral facial palsy. All the 17 patients were treated with high doses of intravenous benzylpenicillin. The hearing of 5 patients improved on treatment. Although the specificity of antibody production against borrelia antigen has not been completely clarified, it is concluded that repeated serological examinations are worthwhile in patients with unexplained hearing disorders.

Key Biomarkers

Reciprocal antibody titreSerum antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi antigen

Symptom Clusters

Acute facial palsyHearing dysfunctionMenière's disease-like disordersSudden hearing lossVertigo

Cited By (2)

  • Neuroborreliosis in the etiology of vestibular neuronitisActa Oto-Laryngologica · 1993
  • Reversible sensorineural hearing loss in Lyme diseaseThe Journal of Laryngology & Otology · 1997

References (2)

  • The triad of neurologic manifestations of Lyme diseaseNeurology · 1985
  • The spirochetal etiology of Lyme diseaseNew England Journal of Medicine · 1983

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