Patients with CDH23 mutations and the 1555A>G mitochondrial mutation are good candidates for electric acoustic stimulation (EAS)

Abstract

Conclusions: CDH23 mutations and the 1555A>G mitochondrial mutation were identified among our series of electric acoustic stimulation (EAS) patients, confirming that these genes were important in hearing loss with involvement of high frequency. Successful hearing preservation as well as good outcomes from EAS indicated that patients with this combination of mutations are good candidates for EAS. Objectives: Screening for gene mutations that possibly cause hearing loss involving high frequency was performed to identify the responsible genes in patients with EAS. In addition to a review of the genetic background of the patients with residual hearing loss, the benefit of EAS for patients with particular gene mutations was evaluated. Methods: Eighteen patients (15 late-onset, 3 early-onset) with residual hearing who had received EAS were included in this study. Genetic analysis was performed to identify GJB2, CDH23, SLC26A4, and the 1555 mitochondrial mutations. Results: Three early-onset patients had CDH23 mutations. One late-onset patient had the 1555 A>G mitochondrial mutation.

Keywords::

• Residual hearing
• hearing preservation
• gene
• mitochondria
• 12S rRNA

Acknowledgments

We thank A.C. Apple-Mathews for help in preparing the manuscript. This study was supported by a Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant for Comprehensive Research on Disability Health and Welfare from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (S.U.), by the Acute Profound Deafness Research Committee of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (S.U.), and by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan (http://www.mext.go.jp/english/) (S.U.).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.