Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-qsmjn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T12:50:07.177Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Auditory function in early syphilis A follow up study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Ulf Rosenhall Gun-Briti Löwhagen
Affiliation:
The Department of Audiology (UR) and the Department of Dermatology (GBL and GR), University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska sjukhuset, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden.
Gösta Roupe
Affiliation:
The Department of Audiology (UR) and the Department of Dermatology (GBL and GR), University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska sjukhuset, S-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden.

Abstract

Abstract Twenty-six patients with secondary or early latent sypilis were examined by auditory brainstem reponse (ABR) audiometry and by pure tone audiometry before and after treatment. Normalization was registered in four of seven patients with pathological ABR before treatment, while in three patients the ABR abnormalities remained after treatment. Thirteen patients exhibited a sensorineural hearing-loss before treatment. In two patients this hearing-loss improved after treatment and a syphilitic etiology seems plausible. The reversible lesions in the auditory system may be related to asymptomatic syphilitic meningitis. Permanent ABR abnormalities might reflect syphilitic vascular involvement in the brainstem.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alergant, C. D. (1965) Eighth nerve deafness in early syphilis. British Journal of Venereal Diseases, 41: 300301.Google ScholarPubMed
Balkany, T. J. and Dans, P. E. (1978) Reversible sudden deafness in early acquired syphilis. Archives of Otolaryngology, 104: 6668.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Centers for Disease Control (1982) Update on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)—United States, Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 31: 507508, 513–514.Google Scholar
Dodge, P. R. and Schwartz, M. N. (1965) Bacterial meningitis—a review of selected aspects. II.Special neurologic problems, postmeningitic complications and clinicopathological correlations. New Engl and Journal of Medicine, 272: 954960.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Karmody, C. S. and Schuknecht, H. F. (1966) Deafness in congenital syphilis. Archives of Otolaryngology, 83: 1827.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kerr, A. G., Smyth, G. D. L. and Cinnamond, M. J. (1973) Congenital syphilitic deafness. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 87: 112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
King, A., Nicol, C. and Rodin, P. (1980) Venereal Diseases 4th ed. Bailliere and Tindall, London.Google Scholar
Klockhoff, I., Drettner, B., Hagelin, K. W. and Lindholm, L. (1973) A method for computerized classification of pure tone screening audiometry results in noise-exposed groups. Acta Otolaryngologica, 75: 339340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lichten, G. D., Pommeranz, J. R., Chester, C. S. and Kark, E. C. (1980) Secondary syphilis with acute meningitis and quadiparesis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2: 388392.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Löwhagen, G. B., Andersson, M., Blomstrand, C. and Roupe, G. (1983a) Central nervous system involvement in early syphilis. Part I. Intrathecal immunoglobulin production. Acta Dermato-Venereologica (Stockholm). 63: 409417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lówhagen, G. B., Rosenhall, U., Andersson, M., Blomstrand, C., Lindholm, L. and Roupe, G. (1983b). Central nervous system involvement in early syphilis. Part II. Correlation between auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities. Acta Dermato-Venereologica (Stockholm). 63: 530535.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nadol, J. B. Jr. (1978) Hearing loss as a sequela of meningitis. Laryngoscope, 88: 739755.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nelson, R. A. and Duncan, L. (1945) Acute syphilitic meningitis treated with penicillin. American Journal of Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Venereal Diseases, 29: 141164.Google Scholar
Özdamar, O., Kraus, N. and Stein, L. (1983) Auditory brainstem responses in infants recovering from bacterial meningitis. Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, 109: 1318.Google ScholarPubMed
Rosenhall, U. (1981) Brain stem electrical responses in cerebellopontine angle tumours. The Journal of Laryngology and Otology, 95: 931940.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenhall, U. and Kankkunen, A. (1980) Hearing alterations following meningitis: 1. Hearing improvement. Ear and Hearing, 1: 185190.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rosenhall, U. and Roupe, G. (1981) Auditory brain-stem responses in syphilis. British Journal of Venereal Diseases, 57: 241245.Google ScholarPubMed
Schneider, S. and Bolte, B. (1972) Plötzliche Hörminderung bei Lues II. 'Neurorezidiv', Medizinische Welt, 23: 319321.Google Scholar
Stokes, J. H., Beerman, H. and Ingraham, N. R. (1944) Modern clinical syphiology, 3rd ed. Saunders, W. B.Company, Philadelphia and London, pp. 607613.Google Scholar
Tamari, M. J. and Itkin, P. (1951) Penicillin and syphilis of the ear. Part I. The Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Monthly, 30: 252261.Google Scholar
Willcox, R. R. and Goodwin, P. G. (1971) Nerve deafness in early syphilis. British Journal of Venereal Diseases, 47: 401405.Google ScholarPubMed
World Health Organization, Technical Report Series (1981) Report of a WHO Scientific Group. Treponemal infections, No. 674.Google Scholar
Zoller, M., Wilson, W. R., Nadol, J. B. and Girard, K. F. (1978) Detection of syphilitic hearing loss. Archives of Otolaryngology, 104: 6365.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed