Analysis of sensorineural hearing loss and its relation to Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography findings in Behcet's disease.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to analyze auditory involvement in patients with Behcet's disease and its association with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography findings and disease manifestations.

METHODS

This study included 54 eyes and 68 ears of 34 adults with Behcet's disease in comparison to 30 eyes and 60 ears of healthy controls. Clinical, laboratory and ophthalmological evaluation including Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography was done. Audiological assessment included otoscopic examination, immitancemetry and pure tone and speech audiometry.

RESULTS

Sensorineural hearing loss was observed in 32.35% of the studied cases. Behcet's disease patients showed significantly higher average hearing level and significant reduction of retinal vessel density compared to controls. Patients with sensorineural hearing loss demonstrated significantly lower central retinal capillary vessel density and higher neuro-Behcet's disease incidence in comparison to those without hearing loss (p-value = 0.039 and 0.024, respectively), which was confirmed by univariate regression analysis. After entering significant factors into the multivariate model, neuro-BD was identified as the most significant single predictor of sensorineural hearing loss in BD (p-value = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

The association between sensorineural hearing loss and central retinal vessel density reduction and neuro- Behcet's disease should be considered in Behcet's disease.