Audiovestibular Manifestations in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis--A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease of unknown origin affecting up to 1% of the population. Audiovestibular impairment has been observed in ankylosing spondylitis and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common form. The cause of SNHL is still unknown but the possible causes are as follows: vascular inflammation (obliterative vasculitis) of small vessels, ossification of the articular tissue of the middle ear, and use of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. This is a case report of a patient with ankylosing spondylitis and SNHL along with a discussion of the literature regarding cochleovestibular impairment in ankylosing spondylitis.