Cochlear And Vestibular Involvement In Children With Henoch Schönlein Vasculitis

Abstract Purpose: In this study, our purpose is to evaluate cochlear and vestibular function in juveniles with HSV using audiometry, DPOAEs, and cVEMP tests.Methods: 40 children diagnosed with HSV from the pediatry clinic and 40 age and sex-matched healthy children were evaluated with distortion product otoacoustic emissions, audiometry, and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test in a tertiary hospital.Results: The audiometry average values ​​for both ears of HSV group and the control subjects were compared, and as a result, median 4.7 dB sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) was found for HSV group compared to control group at 250 Hz and it was statistically significant (p <0.001). An average of 6.4 dB SHL was detected at 8000 Hz (p <0.001). There was a statistically significant difference among HSV and control group regarding measurement results of average p1-n1 latency time of both ears (0.9 milliseconds (ms) increase, P = 0.035). In HSV patients, the median amplitude difference of both ears' average p1 n1 was found to be 5,6 millivolt, statistically significantly decreased compared to the control group (p = 0.003).Conclusion: This study, firstly in literature, demonstrated that HSV may cause hearing loss and vestibular dysfunction in children. We think this might be due to autoimmune mechanisms.