Sudden sensorineural hearing loss during pregnancy: clinical characteristics, management and outcome

Abstract

Background: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) may occur during pregnancy with a rare prevalence, and little is known about it.

Aims: To retrospectively analyze cases of SSNHL during pregnancy and investigate their clinical characteristics, management and outcome.

Material and methods: Records of 30 SSNHL patients during pregnancy were reviewed, including age, localization, duration from onset to treatment, gestation period, accompanying symptoms, initial hearing threshold, final hearing threshold, audiogram, treatment and outcome.

Results: Twenty-four patients (80.0%) suffered SSNHL in the second trimester or the last trimester with a high rate of tinnitus (70.0%). The initial hearing threshold was 63.4 ± 25.1 dB, and most audiograms were flat and profound. The overall recovery rate was 60.0%, including complete recovery (33.3%) and partial recovery (26.7%). Further, 16 patients received adjuvant intratympanic steroid showed a better audiologic outcome (improvement 27.1 ± 16.4 vs. 15.7 ± 12.0 dB, p = .042) than those who had not.

Conclusions and significance: SSNHL during pregnancy often occurred in the second trimester or the last trimester with a severe hearing loss, the most audiogram configurations are flat and profound. Dextran-40 is a safe and beneficial therapy for SSNHL patients during pregnancy and adjuvant intratympanic steroid increase the probability of hearing recovery.

Chinese abstract

背景：突发性感音神经性听力损失（SSNHL）可能会发生在妊娠期, 但发病率很低。目前对此所知甚少。

目的：回顾性分析妊娠期SSNHL病例, 探讨其临床特点、处理方法以及结果。

材料与方法：回顾性分析30例SSNHL患者的妊娠期记录, 包括年龄、部位、从起病至治疗的时长、妊娠期、伴随症状、初始听力阈值、最终听力阈值、听力图、治疗及结果。

结果：24例患者（80.0%）在妊娠中期或晚期出现SSNHL, 耳鸣发生率高（70.0%）。初始听阈为63.4 ± 25.1分贝, 大多数听力图平坦且深。总恢复率为60.0%, 包括完全恢复率（33.3%）和部分恢复率（26.7%）。此外, 16名接受辅助性鼓室内类固醇治疗的患者比未接受的患者有更好的听力结果（改善程度为27.1± 16.4 vs.15.7± 12.0 分贝, p=.042）。

结论与意义：妊娠期SSNHL多发生在妊娠中期或妊娠晚期, 听力损失严重, 听力图形态大多平坦且深。对于怀孕期SSNHL患者来说, 右旋糖酐-40是一种安全和有益的治疗方法, 辅以鼓室内类固醇会增加听力恢复的可能性。

Keywords:

• Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
• pregnancy
• intratympanic steroids
• dextran

Disclosure statement

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